Armen Orujyan

ARMEN ORUJYAN

Armen Orujyan, Ph. D., is the Founding CEo of the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST) 

Armen Hambardzoum Orujyan was born on 15 February, 1974. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors in Political Science from UCLA and received his Master of Arts degree and Ph. D. from the School of Politics and Economics at Claremont Graduate University (CGU). He is a recipient of CGU’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Orujyan joined the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology in 2016 as the founding CEo. Under his leadership, the Foundation has launched over 30 science-intensive education, research, and commercialization programs in Armenia and beyond. These efforts thrust Artificial Intelligence and nurture Biotechnology and other STEM areas through its secondary, tertiary, and graduate educational programs. They accelerate cutting-edge innovation through startup incubators, venture builders, and accelerators and engage globally prominent scientists with the local scientific community to produce scholarly publications and advance science through its highly regarded orujyan research grants. The impact has reached over 6,000 students, scientists, and entrepreneurs. Before joining FAST, Armen founded and was the CEo and Chairman of Athgo Corporation, one of the world’s leading entrepreneurship platforms in consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, the UN Department of Public Information, and the World Intellectual Property organization. Armen’s pioneering initiatives have provided educational and entrepreneurial opportunities to nearly 10,000 young innovators and students from over 600 universities in 80 countries, helping build startups, incubation and acceleration programs, and innovation-stimulating policies in North America, East Africa, Europe, and Asia. Earlier in his career, Armen Orujyan entered the national political arena serving as an advisor for various US political campaigns, including the presidential. In 2001, championing opportunities for youth and the disadvantaged, Armen initiated a human rights movement that brought over 40,000 young people and concerned citizens onto the streets of Los Angeles. Leveraging social media’s power and youth’s convening power, the movement has since turned into an annual observance, attracting over 150,000 galvanized people. In 2006, Armen joined the UN’s Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID) as a Founding Member. He was appointed by the Secretary General of the UN and served through 2013 as co-Chairman of GAID. Armen also served as a Commissioner on the UN’s venerated Broadband Commission for Digital Development through 2015. He was named a UN e-Leader for ICT and Youth and selected as one of the top under-40 young leaders by the Asia Society. In 2017, he joined Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy as a Member of the Board of Advisors. He is also a member of Asia Society’s Global Council. 

Presently Armen Orujyan lives in Los Angeles, California.