Today, Yerevan hosted Kolba innovation laboratory’s Innovation for Development program initial meeting.

The program is financed by EU and is realized by UNDP innovative laboratory.

United Nations Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia Bradley Busetto said during a meeting with journalists that the program is very innovational and Armenia is among the first countries to implement it.

“We will try to adopt new industry-specific ideas from entrepreneurial world, such as Silicon Valley and, implement those in public administration within the program. Innovation Lab will recruit thousands of ideas among citizens about, for example, how to carry out social development, protect the environment, and create new jobs trying to bring those ideas to life. The fact that we found supporters in the government is impressive”, said Bradley Busetto.

Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Piotr Switalski said that the program is to encourage dialogue between citizens and the public sector for more efficient management purposes.

“Armenia’s future is closely linked to the country’s innovative potential. The EU supports and encourages innovation through various programs of cooperation- economic development, education and e-management sectors. In order to ensure innovations in Armenian administrative reforms, it’s important to encourage the citizen’s involvement and encourage inclusion of new ideas in policy development process”, said Piotr Switalski.

The project intends to conduct a series of public events, which started on January 30 with the first week of Public Policy Innovation held in Armenia.

The format includes a TEDx conference, Kolba meeting session, consultative meeting and discussions for professionals working in the field of public administration.

According to the Head of Kolba innovative lab Marina Mkhitaryan, the core of the program is citizens who are given a key role in policy development and implementation process.

“Cooperation between 2 major organizations will allow developing new mechanisms for citizen participation and implementing open government innovations in Armenia. The project will be implemented in 3 main areas: incubations of citizens’, public awareness and management innovation. British FutureGov consulting company is also involved in the last area. The company is a leader in development and implementation of innovative managerial solution”, concluded Marina Mkhitaryan.