I want to make Armenia a hub of science and technologies. President Armen Sarkissian

On November 19, President Armen Sarkissian visited the Centre for Quantum Technologies of the National University of Singapore, toured the Centre and got acquainted with its activities and programs.

The Centre was established in 2007 with the support of the National Research Foundation of Singapore and the Ministry of Education. As a leading research centre, it brings together physicists, computer scientists, and engineers to conduct fundamental research on quantum physics and to create equipment based on quantum phenomena. The world's leading specialists have been invited to this Centre.

President Sarkissian met with Professor Tsuhan Chen, Deputy President of the National University of Singapore, Professor José Ignacio Latorre, Director of the Centre for Quantum Technologies, and Keok Tong Ling, Head of the “Smart Nation & Digital Economy” Department at the National Research Foundation.

They acquainted President Sarkissian with the Centre's activities, the research carried out in various fields, including its application in medicine.

During the meeting, issues related to mutually beneficial cooperation were discussed, in particular, issues related to the exchange of experience, the implementation of exchange programs for young professionals and scientists.

President Sarkissian presented the ATOM (Advanced Tomorrow) Presidential Initiative for the Development of Science and Technology in Armenia, noting that it, being a future-oriented program, will focus on the scientific and technological development of the country, in particular artificial intelligence, mathematical modelling. The President said that, given that Singapore has a developed quantum ecosystem, they would be happy to have partners from Singapore. The heads of the National University, Research Foundation and the Centre for Quantum Technologies, in their turn, noted that they are interested in cooperation, ready to study and discuss specific areas of joint work.

President Sarkissian also participated in the Forum of the International Council of the National University of Singapore School of Medicine (NUS Medicine), where he spoke about the Armenian-Singaporean relations, the potential for cooperation in the fields of science, education, the role of education and technology in the future development of the states; he also answered the diverse questions of the participants.

Touching upon the Armenian-Singaporean relations, the President of Armenia noted that Singapore is a special country for many Armenians, as the Armenians have had a significant trace and presence in this land.

Speaking about the similarities between Armenia and Singapore, President Sarkissian particularly noted that both peoples value education and science. "It is a good basis for developing cooperation in the fields of education and science. The basis of a competitive state is competitive education. We must do everything in our country to develop education and science and high technologies," he said, "Armenia and Singapore can do a lot together. I want to make Armenia a hub of science and technologies.”

The President of Armenia emphasized that Singapore is a perfect example for our country. "Having no great natural resources, being a small country, Singapore had human potential. Power of idea, vision, strategy. These are the entities that created Singapore," said President Sarkissian. "I hope that the strength of this idea will also make my country strong and prosperous, and I will be able to say that we have repeated the example of Singapore."