On November 14-15, 2024, the Armenian delegation of the Cyber4AM initiative, comprising representatives from univerisities, government, and the IT sector, attended the Convergence 2024 conference in Brussels, Belgium. The event aimed to foster collaboration and explore program development opportunities in cybersecurity with various EU-based institutions.
Ahead of the main conference, a dedicated “pre-Convergence” session focused on assessing Armenia's cybersecurity landscape. Komitas Stepanyan played a crucial role in the discussions, serving as a panelist and contributing valuable insigts in the panel “Skills and Education”. Discussions highlighted key areas for development and partnership, particularly around launching student exchange programs, creating a cybersecurity master’s degree in Armenian universities, and establishing a cybersecurity excellence center in Armenia. The proposed center would address critical needs, such as capacity building, cyber hygiene, policy formulation, and the implementation of cybersecurity measures.
The Armenian delegation met with distinguished experts, including Abdelmalek Benzekri (Université Toulouse III), David Goodman (Cybersec4Europe consultant), and Rodica Tirtea (European Cybersecurity Competence Centre, Bucharest).
The Armenian delegation included Gohar Ghalachyan, Head of International Relations at UFAR; Artyom Mesropyan, Head of the Legislation Division at the RA Ministry of High-Tech Industry; Komitas Stepanyan, Cybersecurity Lecturer at UFAR and Technology and Cybersecurity Director at the Central Bank of Armenia; Armine Arzumanyan, Lecturer at AUA; Narine Martirosyan, Lecturer at YSU; Sevak Torgomyan, Product Owner at M-One and representative of Eurasia International University; Hayk Mnatsakanyan, Co-Founder and CEO of rBlox and UATE member; and Arman Grigoryan, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at the European University of Armenia.
This participation highlights Armenia's commitment to advancing its cybersecurity ecosystem through international cooperation.
