On June 15, the Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF) and UNICEF Armenia hosted the Gyumri Game Conference (GGC): Youth Edition at the Gyumri Technology Center, marking one of the largest youth tech gatherings in Armenia.

Held in a refreshed and youth-centered format, GGC: Youth Edition brought together young talents, creative tech companies, and international partners with a shared vision to grow Armenia’s digital ecosystem through games and innovation.

The event featured over 250 participants from across Armenia. It was attended by leading representatives of the game development and creative industries, including Popok Animation Studio, Sperasoft Armenia, Noor Games, T-VFX, and Oooo Games.

The conference served as the closing event for two major educational programs organized by EIF and UNICEF – Gamechangers: Next Level and CyberNinja Camp – celebrating the graduation of over 200 youth from various regions. Participants showcased their final projects, including original video games and comic books themed around cybersecurity.

Two panel discussions were held:

1. “Being a Gamechanger: Lessons Learned & Next Steps”
2. “Youth Perspectives on Learning, Creating, and Contributing”

Workshops included:

• “3D Magic for Beginners”
• “How AI Impacts Everyday Cybersecurity”
• “Marvelous Designer to ZBrush Workflow”

One of the day’s highlights was the Imagination Challenge, organized in collaboration with Sperasoft. Young designers were given a blank character and tasked with transforming it creatively without altering its pose. The winners were awarded prizes during the closing ceremony.

With the energy, ideas, and creativity brought together during GGC: Youth Edition, Gyumri reaffirmed its role as a rising hub for game development and digital innovation in the region.