Thursday, 13 June 2013
“mLab ECA” Opens Regional Mobile Solutions Lab In Armenia
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan attended the launch of “mLab ECA” regional mobile solutions lab’s new headquarters. The head of government toured the premises getting acquainted with the existing facilities and young researchers’ innovative projects.
Established in 2011, the “mLab ECA” regional mobile solutions laboratory seeks to promote mobile innovation and sustainable regional development. The program is implemented by the Enterprise Incubator Fund with the assistance of the Government of Armenia, the World Bank, the Government of Finland and Nokia.
Nokia is currently running five such labs worldwide. Armenia hosts a regional laboratory for Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia. Two similar labs are operating in Africa and two others in Asia.
Within a short period of time, mLab ECA formed some 20 teams - start-up companies that have developed 70 mobile apps involving USD100 thousand in investments and integrated with Android, iOS and Windows Phone online platforms.
Over 50 mobile companies, 600 programmers and designers have attended a series of events, competitions and workshops organized by the laboratory.
Over 20 training courses have been held in Yerevan and Gyumri for about 180 professionals specialized in the field of mobile technologies, 80 percent of which were recruited by local companies, with the others getting involved in mLab-supported teams and projects.
It was also reported that Armenia was ranked first in the world in terms of ideas submitted for Nokia and mLab co-hosted Mobile Micro-job contest, leaving behind all the countries of Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa.
In order to increase the competitiveness of Mobile Solutions in the region mLab ECA has initiated and organized a regional contest of mobile applications in an effort to develop business and social activities in mobile technologies through innovative ideas.
