Within the framework of the 75th anniversary events of Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU), an international forum on the topic of “University-industry cooperation, directions, examples and artificial intelligence” was held at the initiative and organization of the university, in partnership with the Turkey-Azerbaijan University (TAU), the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMEDA), the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ASK) and the Caspian Energy Club.

The aim is to discuss models of cooperation between universities and industry, share advanced international experience and assess the growing role of higher education institutions in the process of integrating new technologies, especially artificial intelligence, into the production environment.

Opening the event with an introductory speech and welcoming the guests, AzTU Rector Vilayat Valiyev spoke about the importance of establishing a sustainable model of university-industry relations and joint activities based on experience. The Rector spoke about the great contribution of the SME Model Enterprise, which AzTU has created together with SME and is successfully operating, to university-industry cooperation, and the importance of the sustainability of such initiatives.

Chairman of the Board of SME Orkhan Mammadov spoke about the participation of higher education institutions in micro and small entrepreneurship activities and their role in the formation of young entrepreneurs. He noted that for the effectiveness of university-industry cooperation, it is important to correctly understand and accept modern challenges, establish scientific and research directions according to market requirements, conduct internship programs, train professional personnel, and access to financial resources.

Hamlet Isakhanli, the founder of Khazar University, said that it is not easy to establish university-industry cooperation in the modern era. Only research universities that attach importance to scientific and research and allocate funds can implement such an approach. He noted that the most prestigious universities in the world have built their working principle on university-industry-artificial intelligence, and then train leading masters and doctors who guide the industry and bring innovations, adapting to the requirements of the modern market.

Chairman and CEO of Caspian Energy Club, Telman Aliyev, spoke about the application of artificial intelligence in production and the responsibility of higher education in this area, saying that modern universities should take advantage of the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence from education to production, and at the same time, security issues should be a priority in parallel.

Farid Velizade, Senior Advisor to the President of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations, shared about the organizational and institutional mechanisms of cooperation in the university-industry-state triangle, noting that both university representatives, employees of state institutions, and industry representatives should work together to achieve effective work.           

Then, Professor Mehmet Simshir, Vice-Rector of Turkey-Azerbaijan University (TAU), Professor Mesut Guner, Deputy Chairman of TUBITAK, and Mustafa Guden, Professor of Izmir High Technology Institute, Jamil Safarov, Director of the Ganja Production Complex of “Azeraluminium” LLC, Professor Adalat Samedov, First Vice-Rector of the Azerbaijan National Aviation Academy, Mammadsaleh Aliyev, Department Head of the Ministry of Defense Industry, Ozgur Kurum, Director of the “Aselsan-Baku” Company, and Yadullah Babayev, Director of the AzTU Technology Transfer Office, made detailed presentations on the ways in which universities can transfer scientific knowledge to industry through technology transfer and innovation centers, strengthening university-industry relations in the startup ecosystem and the environment supporting new initiatives, the experiences of international technology transfer offices, their role in integration into industry, as well as the joint development of specialized personnel training and scientific and technical experience in the defense and aviation industries.

The event was attended by more than 100 industry representatives and representatives of academic and technological institutions from different countries.