A seminar titled “The Role of Higher Education in Innovation” was held at the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC) of the Republic of Azerbaijan in cooperation with the World Bank Higher Education Sector Mission. The event was attended by representatives of government institutions, as well as more than 30 representatives from universities and research institutes.

In his opening remarks, Vusal Gasimli, Executive Director of CAERC, stated that innovation-driven development is specifically emphasized in the Strategic Roadmaps. “The main objective is to ensure the development of the science–education–business ecosystem and labor resources in line with global and local trends. The development of innovative entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan must be structured in accordance with the demands of global markets,” he noted. V. Gasimli also emphasized that institutional coordination in innovation policy, aligned with international best practices, is feasible in Azerbaijan.

It should be noted that the seminar on “The Role of Higher Education in Innovation” covered several areas. During the session dedicated to reviewing global trends in financing scientific research, presentations on the current state of research and its funding attracted significant interest from participants. Ongoing reforms, key challenges, and opportunities in this field were also discussed. Global trends in creating a favorable environment for technology transfer in Azerbaijan were extensively examined. It was emphasized that the implementation of an intellectual property system, incentives for commercialization, and the establishment of linkages with the private sector are crucial for the development of this area.

In a separate presentation, Ivona Borovik, representative of the World Bank, addressed issues related to skills development, entrepreneurship promotion, and innovation system governance.

During the session titled “Innovative Development: The Azerbaijan Perspective,” Vusal Suleymanli, representative of the High Technologies Park of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, spoke on “The Role of Higher Education in Innovation”; Anar Rzayev, representative of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics, presented on “Promoting Research and Innovation in Higher Education”; and Imran Baghirov, Head of the Barama Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, delivered a presentation on “The Barama Experience in Increasing the Success Rate of Startups.”

Following the presentations, discussions were held focusing primarily on measures to develop relevant market-oriented skills in Azerbaijan, sectors experiencing the highest skills shortages, existing mechanisms to promote entrepreneurship, their effectiveness, and their areas of operation.