Global High-Tech Award Laureate Kam Ghaffarian Begins Official Visit to Armenia with Press Conference at Viva (photo)

The official visit of Kam Ghaffarian, the 17^th laureate of the State Award of the Republic of Armenia for Global Contribution to Humanity through High-Tech (Global High-Tech Award), began today with a press conference hosted by Viva. Mr. Ghaffarian has arrived in Armenia for a three-day official visit as part of the 2026 Global High-Tech Award program.

A renowned entrepreneur and visionary leader in space exploration and advanced technologies, Kam Ghaffarian is the founder and co-founder of “IBX”, “Axiom Space”, “Intuitive Machines”, “X-energy”, and “Quantum Space”. Inspired by the historic “Apollo 11” Moon landing, Kam Ghaffarian dedicated his career to advancing technologies that expand humanity's presence in space while delivering tangible benefits on Earth. Under his leadership, companies he founded and co-founded have made significant contribution to commercial spaceflight, lunar exploration, advanced energy solutions, and next-generation space infrastructure.

The event brought together representatives of the Award Committee, government officials, partner organizations, media representatives, and members of Armenia's tech community.

The speakers included Gevorg Mantashyan, Deputy Minister of High-Tech Industry and Artificial Intelligence of the Republic of Armenia; Armen Avetisian, General Director of Viva, the General Partner of the Award; Hovik Musayelyan, Director of Synopsys Armenia and Coordinator of the Executive Board of the Award Committee and the International Selection Committee; and Garik Israelian, Co-founder and Creative Director of the “Starmus” Festival.

The speakers emphasized the significance of welcoming a globally recognized technology innovator to Armenia and highlighted the role of the Global High-Tech Award in strengthening the country’s connections with the international scientific and innovation communities.

“Inspired by the historic human landing on the Moon during the “Apollo 11” mission, Kam Ghaffarian has himself become a source of inspiration for many. Through his personal journey and the successes he has achieved, he demonstrates that even the most ambitious dreams can become reality when knowledge is combined with courage, purpose, and the determination to act. Mr. Ghaffarian’s professional experience at NASA, his dedication to scientific advancement, and his commitment to leveraging these achievements for the betterment of humanity are of great value to us as well. His example proves once again that when a vision exists—supported by the right environment and the will to bring it to life—goals that once seemed impossible become attainable. Today, space serves not only as a realm for scientific research but also as a platform for the formation and development of new industries. Through his work and the path he has traveled, Kam Ghaffarian reminds us that there are far more possibilities than we often perceive in our daily lives. His example inspires us to think more boldly, to look beyond the ordinary, and to believe that—armed with knowledge, vision, and determination—one can achieve even the most ambitious goals,” said Deputy Minister Gevorg Mantashyan.

During the press conference, the organizers presented the agenda of Mr. Ghaffarian's visit, which includes meetings with government officials, technology leaders, university students and faculty members, media representatives, and members of Armenia's growing innovation ecosystem.

Highlighting the importance of inspiring future generations through the examples of global innovators, Armen Avetisian, General Director of Viva, stated: “Kam Ghaffarian’s story demonstrates that a dream has the power to change the world, and that the boundaries of what is possible are defined not only by the level of scientific and technological advancement, but also by the strength of human will, the scale of one’s thinking, and the courage to take the first step into territory where no one has dared to venture before. It is this very belief in one’s own abilities and potential that connects the child who once watched in awe as the first human landed on the Moon to the man who, today, leads the development of cutting-edge technologies for its exploration. Spanning these two points is an entire lifetime dedicated to turning a dream into reality. For Viva, which has supported this award for 17 years, its value lies in more than just the recognition of outstanding achievements. If Kam Ghaffarian’s story inspires even a few young people to believe in themselves, overcome their doubts, and move closer to their own dreams, then our long-standing support for this award has truly borne fruit”.

As part of his visit, on November 3, Mr. Ghaffarian will participate in the Silicon Mountains Tech Summit 2026, where he will deliver a keynote address and share his vision for innovation, entrepreneurship, and the future of emerging technologies. He will also visit the Matenadaran, one of Armenia's most significant cultural and scientific institutions.

On November 4, Mr. Ghaffarian will meet with students and faculty members at the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, where he will be awarded honorary doctorate in recognition of his exceptional contributions to technological advancement. The program also includes a visit to “Synopsys Armenia”, participation in a special cancellation ceremony for a commemorative cover dedicated to the State Award of the Republic of Armenia for Global Contribution to the High-Tech Sector, and the opening of the Engineering City Walk of Fame on November 5, media interviews, and a meeting with the Minister of High-Tech Industry and Artificial Intelligence of the Republic of Armenia.

On the final day of his visit, Mr. Ghaffarian will meet with students from Armenian universities, visit the History Museum of Armenia, hold discussions with national and international partners, and participate in high-level meetings with government officials, including Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

“Kam Ghaffarian truly embodies the spirit of the Global High-Tech Award. His remarkable journey—from a child inspired by humanity’s first steps on the Moon to becoming a leader in the field of space exploration—demonstrates how bold vision and innovation can contribute to the advancement of humanity. When “Synopsys” initiated this award in 2009, the goal was to recognize leaders in the technology sector whose contributions, through innovative technologies, have a long-term and significant impact on human life. Together with the Government of the Republic of Armenia and our partners, we are proud to continue this mission, to honor Kam as the 17^th recipient of the award, and we look forward to welcoming him to Armenia,” said Hovik Musayelyan, Director of Synopsys Armenia and Coordinator of the Executive Board and International Selection Committee of the Global High-Tech Award.

Garik Israelyan, co-founder and creative director of the “Starmus” Festival, reflected on the emerging role of private individual initiatives in space exploration, as well as the contributions of Kam Ghaffarian to this process: “The first space race had a profound impact on science, technology, and the advancement of humanity. Following a relative recess, we are now witnessing a new resurgence in the space industry, driven by private companies and innovators. Kam Ghaffarian is a pivotal figure in this new era. His contributions to the development of space technologies, lunar exploration, and commercial spaceflight are opening up new possibilities for humanity.”

Kam Ghaffarian expressed his gratitude for his nomination for the award and for the invitation to visit Armenia. In his remarks, he noted, in particular: “For years, I have dreamed of visiting Armenia; being here today and receiving this prestigious award is a great honor for me. When looking at Earth from space, one realizes that it is our common home. From up there, national borders—or national and religious differences—are not visible. Space unites us and reminds us of our shared responsibility. I believe that, in the future, cities will be established in space where people will live, work, and advance science and industry. Space exploration will unlock new possibilities in the fields of medicine, energy, and technology. One of my greatest dreams is for humanity to one day venture beyond the boundaries of the Solar System and reach other stellar systems. One of the most important missions of my life is to inspire people—especially young people—to believe in their own abilities, to choose the path of science and innovation, and to dare to pursue dreams that might even seem impossible. We are all one whole, connected to each other, to our planet, and to the universe.”

The visit will culminate on November 4 with the official award ceremony at the Presidential House of the Republic of Armenia, where the Global High-Tech Award will be presented to Kam Ghaffarian. The ceremony will be attended by state officials, technology leaders, representatives of the international and local high-tech community, academia, and partners of the Award.

During the ceremony, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia will present the Global High-Tech Award to Kam Ghaffarian in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the advancement of space exploration, innovation, and technologies that benefit humanity.

About the Award

Established in 2009 by a decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia, the Global High-Tech Award recognizes individuals whose achievements in high technology have made a significant contribution to humanity. For 17 years, the Award has brought to Armenia world-renowned innovators, creating unique opportunities for knowledge exchange, inspiration, and international collaboration.

The Global High-Tech Award was initiated and is supported by “Synopsys”. Viva has served as the General Partner of the Award for 17 consecutive years. The initiative is supported by the Union of Employers of Information and Communication Technologies (UEICT) and the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund.

The previous winners of the RA State Award for Global Contribution to High Technology are:

1. Former CEO of “Intel Corporation” Craig Barrett (2010)
2. Co-Founder of “Apple Inc.” Steve Wozniak (2011)
3. Chairman Emeritus of “Synaptics, Inc.” Federico Faggin (2012)
4. Chairman of the Society of Semiconductor Industry Seniors and “Techno Vision” Tsugio Makimoto (2013)
5. Chief Development Officer of “Sysco Systems” Mario Mazzola (2014)
6. Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of “Kaspersky Lab” Eugene Kaspersky (2015)
7. Internet pioneer and CEO at “Open-Root” Louis Pouzin (2016)
8. Founder of “Nest labs”, the creator of iPod Tony Fadell (2017)
9. Co-founder of “National Instruments” Dr. James Truchard (2018)
10. U. A. and Helen Whitaker University Professor Dr. Takeo Kanade (2019)
11. Co-Chief Executive Officer of “Synopsys” Dr. Chi-Foon Chan (2020)
12. Vice President of “IBM”'s Electronic Design Automation group Leon Stok (2021)
13. CEO of “Adobe” Shantanu Narayen (2022)
14. Founder of Infosys Narayana Murthy (2023)
15. Founder of AIPLAB consortium Dr. Yoshiaki Daimon Hagiwara (2024)
16. CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Analog Devices Inc. Vincent Roche (2025)
17. Founder and co-founder of the companies "IBX," "Axiom Space," "Intuitive Machines," "X-energy," and "Quantum Space" Kam Ghaffarian (2026)