FAST Set to Host Advance Armenia Gala in Paris to Scale Its Flagship Generation AI Program and Nurture Future AI Creators
The Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST) is set to host its inaugural Advance Armenia Gala in Paris on 16 November, 2024, at the prestigious Automobile Club de France. This evening will spotlight FAST’s flagship initiative, Generation AI, aimed at transforming Armenia into a key player in the global AI landscape by enhancing math and integrating Python and advanced AI education into public school curricula for nurturing the next generation of innovators and creators.
The Advance Armenia Gala will gather prominent figures from the Armenian Diaspora and global visionaries committed to enhancing AI education like François-Xavier Bellamy a prominent Member of the European Parliament. Dr. Noubar Afeyan, Founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering, Co-Founder and Chairman of Moderna, will be among the distinguished speakers. Joining him will be health tech visionary Jean-Charles Samuelian, Co-Founder & CEO of Alan and Co-Founder and Board Member of Mistral AI, both internationally recognized leading firms in technology and innovation.
Ahead of the Gala, Arnak Dalalyan, a professor of Statistics at ENSAE Paris, the director of CREST, and Advisory Board member of the Generation AI program addressed the French-Armenian community, highlighting the critical need for accessible AI education in Armenia: “Attending the upcoming Gala is a great opportunity to share knowledge and expertise. By investing in our human capital and developing globally competitive AI innovators, we can collectively foster a new generation equipped with the competencies critical for Armenia’s success in an AI-driven world.”
The Gala will include a dinner, a fundraising auction and musical performances, with proceeds directly benefiting the Generation AI High School Project – the first phase of a multi-layer program aimed at establishing a career pipeline that spans from high school through doctoral levels. This initiative, developed by FAST in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of Armenia, is currently in its pilot phase, involving 15 schools – positively impacting 540 students and 61 educators across seven regions of the country. This program is integrated into the public education system and is accessible free of charge, offering a comprehensive three-year curriculum covering Advanced Math, Python programming, and AI topics as well as providing skill development and career guidance. In the coming years, the program will expand to up to 45 high schools in strategic locations, broadening its reach to more than 85% of students nationwide.
About FAST:
The Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology was founded in 2017 with the aim of creating a favorable ecosystem to promote technological innovation and scientific advancement in Armenia. FAST develops and pilots programs with the potential for a long-term, sustainable impact on Armenia’s science, technology, and innovation ecosystem. Over its seven years of operation, the foundation has implemented 26 programs and positively impacted more than 15,000 direct beneficiaries.
