Baku, Azerbaijan. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), a world-class aerospace and defence leader, participated in a forward-thinking discussion at COP29 in Baku led by Salar Imamaliyev, the Advisor to Chairperson at the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) of Azerbaijan.
Dani Paslev, Regional Director, Marketing and Business Development manager, represented IAI in an expert panel discussion offering insights on sustainability, technology, and the importance of international collaboration. This event underscored IAI’s strong partnership with Azerbaijan, particularly through the Azerbaijan Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA), which focuses on digital transformation and ecosystem building in Azerbaijan.
The panel was held on November 16 at the Azerbaijan Pavilion in the Blue Zone. It spotlighted IAI’s collaboration with IDDA in advancing sustainable practices through innovative technologies and emphasised how this partnership contributes to global efforts in this capacity.
One notable example discussed at the panel is the proposed development of a smart transportation laboratory inspired by IAI’s CyITS (Cyber Intelligent Transportation System) initiative in Israel. CyITS, a collaborative effort involving the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, the Ministry of Transportation, and Ben Gurion University, serves as an advanced research and testing facility that ensures cybersecurity in intelligent transportation networks.
Adapting this concept to Azerbaijan’s needs could strengthen its transportation infrastructure and cybersecurity resilience. Leveraging IAI’s technologies, this initiative aims to support sustainability, foster job creation, and establish research centres, all coordinated through the planned Centre of Excellence.
IAI’s partnership with Azerbaijan, highlighted by its strategic collaboration with IDDA, is driven by a mutual commitment to expanding the application of aero-defence innovations into broader fields. This partnership aims to develop market-ready solutions that combine IAI’s technological leadership with the dynamic capabilities of Azerbaijan’s innovation ecosystem.
“Our partnership with IDDA is not just about fostering early-stage innovation; it is about creating competitive technologies that integrate seamlessly into the global market,” said Dani Paslev. “We believe that sustainability and business growth can go hand in hand, driving impactful solutions for the world.
IAI’s expertise in geospatial analytics platforms – traditionally used in defence – demonstrates how technology can be repurposed to support sustainability efforts. This includes AI-driven geospatial imagery, predictive analytics for urban planning, monitoring critical infrastructure, and post-event analysis for natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and wildfires.
“Our knowledge in data fusion and intelligence, when paired with Azerbaijan’s innovation-driven approach, opens pathways for sustainable applications in urban development and smart city planning,” Paslev added.
Salar Imamaliyev, the Advisor to Chairperson at IDDA: “IAI’s participation at COP29 is a testament to the strong and growing relationship between IAI and Azerbaijan, which goes beyond innovation – it reflects a mutual commitment to leveraging technology for sustainability and long-term growth. IAI’s collaboration with IDDA is set to drive advancements that benefit both countries and contribute to global progress in sustainable development.”
The Innovation and Digital Development Agency, established under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan in 2021, serves to contribute to the digital transformation field and strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem. Among its priority directions are organising digital government and digital society, developing and promoting digital public services, supporting local and foreign ICT businesses by enabling the environment for their accommodation and growth, and supporting human capital development in the field of ICT.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is a world-leading aerospace and defence company innovating and delivering state-of-the-art technologies in space, air, land, naval, cyber and homeland security for defence and commercial markets. Combining the “Start-up Nation” spirit of innovation with decades of combat-proven experience, IAI provides customers with tailor-made, cutting-edge solutions to the unique challenges they face, including satellites, UAVs, missiles, intelligence solutions, weapon systems, air defence systems, robotic systems, radars, business jets, aerostructures, and more.
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