On 6 June, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute was visited by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Ukraine Seymur Gurban oglu Mardaliyev. The Ambassador was accompanied by the Third Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Ukraine Parviz Sayaf oglu Asadov.
Rector of the University Mykhailo Zgurovsky, Vice-Rector for International Relations Serhiy Sydorenko, Director of the Institute of Advanced Defence Technologies Yuriy Yekhanurov, Head of the All-Ukrainian Innovation Ecosystem ‘Sikorsky Challenge Ukraine’ (SCU) Inna Maliukova, Director of the Centre for International Education of KPI Serhiy Maulik and other university staff met with the guests.
The participants of the meeting considered a number of issues related to the resumption of cooperation between Azerbaijani colleagues and Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute teachers and researchers and its expansion. This cooperation has a long history, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the full-scale war that Russia has unleashed against Ukraine, its intensity has decreased in recent years. Therefore, the parties discussed the renewal of partnership in all areas, but, first of all, of course, in the education of young Azerbaijani citizens in some of the most attractive educational programmes of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. The possibilities of cooperation in the scientific and technological sphere were also considered: for example, preliminary agreements were reached on the creation of a group of research satellites at the expense of Azerbaijani partners. The parties also outlined approaches to implementing joint projects within the framework of the Institute of Advanced Defence Technologies of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, in particular in the field of humanitarian demining. In addition, the conversation touched upon the organisation of a joint scientific and innovation conference between SCU and relevant research institutions and universities of Azerbaijan, the participation of Azerbaijani inventors and startups in the next international festival of innovative projects ‘Sikorsky Challenge’, etc. ‘Together, we can develop a common platform and activities that will promote innovation, both in Azerbaijan and in Ukraine,’ said Inna Maliukova. Also during the meeting, representatives of Azerbaijan and Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute discussed the cooperation of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute with the Turkish company Baykar Makina and the potential opportunity to develop cooperation with partners in the triangle: KPI - partners from Azerbaijan - partners from Turkey.
The guests got acquainted with the memorial stands dedicated to Kyiv polytechnics who gave their lives for the independence of Ukraine, the alley of prominent scientists whose lives and activities were closely connected with KPI, the expositions of the State Polytechnic Museum of Ukraine and its Igor Sikorsky Aviation and Cosmonautics Department. They also visited the innovative shelter ‘Smart Shelter CLUST Space’ in the University's Scientific and Technical Library.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Ukraine Seymur Gurban oglu Mardaliyev paid an important visit to Kyiv Polytechnic.
The parties will now cooperate on the space program, cybersecurity, and the introduction of the latest technologies in humanitarian demining.
Also, representatives of Azerbaijan expressed great interest in the KPI's incubator of advanced technologies - the Sikorsky Challenge innovation ecosystem - and declared their intention to work together on developments in the field of defense technologies.