Final Reporting and Closing Ceremony of the Project “Transforming Higher Education Institutions into Innovation Centers: The Case of Sumgayit State University”
On September 18, the final reporting event of the project “Transforming Higher Education Institutions into Innovation Centers: Using the Example of Sumgayit State University” was organized.
The event was attended by the heads of Korea “Eximbank”, Asian Development Bank (ADB), “Ars Praxia”, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), State Agency for Science and Higher Education under the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sumgayit State University (SSU) and other higher education institutions. SSU Vice-Rector, Corresponding Member of ANAS, Professor Aminagha Sadigov made a speech and emphasized the successful implementation of the project. He noted that the location of the university in an industrial city is a strategic advantage: “Choosing SSU as a base is a successful decision. Personnel training is carried out here mainly for industrial sectors and there is a favorable ground for innovations. The completion of the project is not the end of cooperation, on the contrary, the results achieved will create a basis for long-term and more effective cooperation,” Aminagha Sadigov noted. Hwanwoo Kim, General Director of the Istanbul Office of Eximbank, noted in his speech that the project strengthens the exchange of knowledge and experience between Azerbaijan and Korea, and that the successful models of Korean universities have given impetus to the formation of an innovation and startup ecosystem in our country. Sunnia Durrani-Jamal, Director of the Asian Development Bank for Azerbaijan, noted that the project will strengthen university-industry cooperation in the country and will make a significant contribution to the development of the research and innovation potential of higher education. Sharing the experience of developing startups and research institutes in innovation cities of Korean universities, Professor Seung Hun Han of KAIST emphasized that this model is of strategic importance for SDU and the Azerbaijani higher education system. The main goal was to turn Azerbaijani higher education into a strong platform for innovation and sustainable economic growth. In this context, increasing the research and commercialization potential of universities was identified as a priority. It was noted that within the framework of the project, strategies were developed to establish national research institutes and innovation centers based on Korean experience, form a startup ecosystem based on government-industry-academia cooperation, as well as establish international cooperation and innovation centers. At the same time, meetings were held with representatives of SOCAR and the private sector within the framework of the project, and recommendations were made towards the establishment of technology management offices at universities, commercialization of research, and strengthening academic independence. Leo Kim, Executive Director of “Ars Praxia,” delivered a presentation on innovation in higher education, university–industry collaboration, and the application of international best practices in this field. He spoke about future development trends in higher education, the opportunities created by cooperation with industry, as well as the steps that can be taken to enhance the global competitiveness of universities. Leo Kim, Executive Director of Ars Praxia, made a presentation on innovation in higher education, university-industry cooperation, and the application of international practices in this field. He spoke about the future development trends of higher education, the opportunities created by cooperation with industry, as well as steps that can be taken to increase the global competitiveness of universities.
Then, the report submitted on the project was discussed in detail, questions were answered, and a number of proposals and recommendations were put forward.
The event was attended by the heads of Korea “Eximbank”, Asian Development Bank (ADB), “Ars Praxia”, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), State Agency for Science and Higher Education under the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sumgayit State University (SSU) and other higher education institutions. SSU Vice-Rector, Corresponding Member of ANAS, Professor Aminagha Sadigov made a speech and emphasized the successful implementation of the project. He noted that the location of the university in an industrial city is a strategic advantage: “Choosing SSU as a base is a successful decision. Personnel training is carried out here mainly for industrial sectors and there is a favorable ground for innovations. The completion of the project is not the end of cooperation, on the contrary, the results achieved will create a basis for long-term and more effective cooperation,” Aminagha Sadigov noted. Hwanwoo Kim, General Director of the Istanbul Office of Eximbank, noted in his speech that the project strengthens the exchange of knowledge and experience between Azerbaijan and Korea, and that the successful models of Korean universities have given impetus to the formation of an innovation and startup ecosystem in our country. Sunnia Durrani-Jamal, Director of the Asian Development Bank for Azerbaijan, noted that the project will strengthen university-industry cooperation in the country and will make a significant contribution to the development of the research and innovation potential of higher education. Sharing the experience of developing startups and research institutes in innovation cities of Korean universities, Professor Seung Hun Han of KAIST emphasized that this model is of strategic importance for SDU and the Azerbaijani higher education system. The main goal was to turn Azerbaijani higher education into a strong platform for innovation and sustainable economic growth. In this context, increasing the research and commercialization potential of universities was identified as a priority. It was noted that within the framework of the project, strategies were developed to establish national research institutes and innovation centers based on Korean experience, form a startup ecosystem based on government-industry-academia cooperation, as well as establish international cooperation and innovation centers. At the same time, meetings were held with representatives of SOCAR and the private sector within the framework of the project, and recommendations were made towards the establishment of technology management offices at universities, commercialization of research, and strengthening academic independence. Leo Kim, Executive Director of “Ars Praxia,” delivered a presentation on innovation in higher education, university–industry collaboration, and the application of international best practices in this field. He spoke about future development trends in higher education, the opportunities created by cooperation with industry, as well as the steps that can be taken to enhance the global competitiveness of universities. Leo Kim, Executive Director of Ars Praxia, made a presentation on innovation in higher education, university-industry cooperation, and the application of international practices in this field. He spoke about the future development trends of higher education, the opportunities created by cooperation with industry, as well as steps that can be taken to increase the global competitiveness of universities.
Then, the report submitted on the project was discussed in detail, questions were answered, and a number of proposals and recommendations were put forward.
