Baku, Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan’s Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote scientific and technological cooperation in the field of innovation. The signing ceremony, held on Wednesday, January 22 marks a significant milestone in fostering international collaboration to drive advancements in innovation.
The MoU focuses on developing cooperation in innovation, science, technology and education between the two organisations. Under the agreement, the parties will explore collaboration in several key areas, including – establishing a joint Centre of Excellence, collaborating with global academic and technological institutions, developing educational programs and professional training, and exploring possible joint ventures in innovation segments.
Farid Osmanov, Chairperson, IDDA commented, “This MoU reflects the shared commitment of IDDA and IAI to enhance deeper liaison in the field of innovation. It emphasises collaboration with academic and technological institutions in Azerbaijan and Israel to facilitate knowledge-sharing opportunities and drive technological progress. One of the initial initiatives with IAI will focus on promoting innovative solutions and advancing human capital development in close collaboration with Azercosmos, particularly in key areas such as Quantum, AI, Space-Tech Sustainability, and Energy-Tech. We look forward to harnessing this partnership to accelerate innovation and create meaningful opportunities.”
Boaz Levy, President and CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries stated, “I deeply appreciate and am grateful for the long-standing cooperation with the Azerbaijani government, the mutual respect, and the close relationship we have developed over the years. This strategic partnership with Azerbaijan’s Innovation and Digital Development Agency marks an important step in expanding our global innovation ecosystem. Through this collaboration, we aim to foster technological advancement and create new opportunities for both organisations. This agreement reflects IAI’s commitment to sharing our technological expertise and contributing to the development of innovation capabilities in partnering countries.”
Salar Imamaliyev, Advisor to the Chairperson, IDDA said, “The signing of this memorandum of understanding (MoU) is a crucial step in strengthening the partnership between IDDA and IAI. It lays the groundwork for advancements in science and technology, including the launch of a joint Centre of Excellence. This center will act as an innovation hub, providing educational programs and professional training to prepare future talent. The initiative will also support joint projects in advanced technologies, promoting progress and collaboration in relevant segments.”
Eytan Eshel, IAI’s EVP R&D, Technology and Innovation (CTO) remarked, “The establishment of a joint Centre of Excellence and our focus on collaborative innovation and educational programs demonstrates the deep technological partnership between IAI and Azerbaijan. This MoU will enable us to leverage our mutual strengths in innovation and advanced technologies while developing the next generation of professionals in both countries. We look forward to working closely with our Azerbaijani partners on various initiatives to drive innovation and technological advancement.”
To ensure effective implementation within the framework of this partnership, IDDA and IAI will exchange expertise, jointly participate in conferences, forums, and exhibitions, and work on initiatives that align with their shared objectives. These collaborative efforts will serve as a platform for promoting mutual growth and advancing technological frontiers.
It is worth noting that this partnership builds on the successful collaboration established during COP29, where IDDA hosted the “Digital Green Horizons: Integrating Government and Technological Solutions for a Sustainable Future” event, during which a panel session with IAI highlighted the potential for integrating cutting-edge technologies in Azerbaijan, thereby setting the stage for this formalised agreement.
