On July 28, 2022, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a Decree “On some measures to improve management in the field of science and education in the Republic of Azerbaijan”. The Decree contains important structural changes in order to strengthen the interaction of science and education and improve management in these areas.

Both in the context of the challenges of the modern world and in the context of the new socio-economic realities of the country, the Decree is extremely important from the point of view of the development of strategically important sciences and education at the level of modern requirements. Thus, the experience of the developed countries of the world shows that the development of science and education, including highly qualified human resources, is the basis of strategies implemented in the modern world in all areas, political, socio-economic, cultural, megaprojects and concepts affecting the development of society, innovative ecosystems, without exception. Therefore, in the current conditions, when a new reality is emerging in the country, the development of scientific potential is of strategic importance. It is as a result of this that important achievements in scientific activity have been achieved in Azerbaijan, which has been rapidly developing over the past decade and has become a leading state in the region. It is no coincidence that in the “Strategy of socio-economic development of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022-2026”, approved by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev dated July 22, 2022, as one of the main achievements over the past 10 years, achievements in scientific activity were highlighted. The document states that over the past 10 years, “the research potential has been modernized, applied research has been expanded, opportunities for the use of modern technologies have been created and the role of intellectual property in this process has been increased.”

The number of publications devoted to research in various fields of science was growing rapidly. Over the past 5 years, the number of academic publications has increased by 80% and Azerbaijan annually, starting in 2018, ranks first among the countries of the South Caucasus in this indicator. Over the past 4 years, as a result of institutional reform in the field of intellectual property in the Global Competitiveness Index, our country has risen from 71st to 30th place among 140 countries in terms of “Intellectual Property protection”, the share of the creative economy in GDP has increased from 3.5% to 5.3%.”

These achievements, reflected in the Strategy approved by Mr. President Ilham Aliyev, became possible thanks to the hard work and efforts of Azerbaijani scientists as a result of the policy pursued by the state in the field of scientific activity over the past 10 years.

Along with all this, it should be noted that the implementation of specific measures to optimize management and improve the structure to ensure closer participation of Azerbaijani science and education, which has rich traditions and powerful scientific potential, in the socio-economic development of the state is one of the main tasks facing it at present. Thus, in order to understand the role and importance of science as one of the fundamental foundations of the development of society and the state from the point of view of new approaches and challenges, it faces a number of tasks that need to be implemented.

One of the important policy directions pursued by President Ilham Aliyev in recent years is such complex innovations as optimization of the management system, increasing transparency, introduction of new management mechanisms and more efficient use of personnel. The main goal of these reforms is the radical modernization of the political, economic and cultural life of the country. In such conditions, structural reforms in the field of scientific activity, the implementation of state regulation that unites science and education into a single system, bringing scientific directions in line with the requirements of modern times, carrying out fundamental and conceptual reforms in the field of scientific performance, compliance with national and state interests, staffing, etc. were important.

From this point of view, the Decree has a very important functional significance, based on the need to reorganize the structure of Azerbaijani science in flexible and effective forms, mainly in accordance with the interests of the country, taking into account existing realities. Undoubtedly, the Decree will play a serious role in achieving coordination and evaluation in the field of scientific activity, as well as in radically improving this area in terms of structure and management.

This Presidential Decree plays an important role in terms of entering a new stage of progress in modern conditions of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, which for almost eighty years has passed a very glorious path of development, has made a significant contribution to the socio-economic, cultural and spiritual development of the country throughout its existence. Now the members of ANAS, the army of intelligentsia, which makes up the bulk of the scientific potential of the republic, must unite all efforts towards the implementation of the tasks set out in the Decree for the modernization of the Academy.

The Decree defines new, rather important tasks for the scientific and educational community of the republic. Employees of the republic working in the field of science and education, regardless of their position, age, should combine all their efforts, intellectual potential, administrative, organizational, spiritual and ideological resources to fulfill these tasks, participate more closely in the implementation of the state policy pursued by Mr. President.

The leadership and staff of ANAS expresses deep gratitude to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, for this Decree, which opened up wide opportunities in terms of entering a new stage of integration of science and education in our country.

National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan