Farid Osmanov: Innovative infrastructure - one of our main areas of activity

The Innovation and Digital Development Agency in Azerbaijan regularly organizes events to create an innovation ecosystem in the country, Farid Osmanov, chairman of the Board of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency, told Report.

He noted that one of the key factors in developing an innovation ecosystem is the creation of an innovation infrastructure, as well as providing startups with access to financial resources, expanding opportunities to enter foreign markets, fostering innovative thinking, and developing human capital.

"Creating an innovation infrastructure in our country is one of our core activities. Within this framework, the concept of the Azerbaijan Innovation Center was developed. Innovation centers are currently operating in Baku and Sumgait. As a follow-up to this effort, the Nakhchivan Innovation Center was opened in collaboration with Nakhchivan State University.

It is particularly significant for us that such centers are being established at universities and research institutes. Such initiatives, built on the collaboration of the state, universities, and businesses, ensure sustainable development. The center, established at Nakhchivan State University, provides offices for IT specialists and technology labs for the implementation of startup ideas. The Agency has provided these labs with the necessary equipment. Furthermore, innovation programs have been developed jointly with Nakhchivan State University," he said.

Osmanov added that the main goal of these activities is to ensure the accessibility of the innovation ecosystem in all regions of the country.