INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: DIFFUSION AND APPLICATION OF ICT
Chapter 2
2.3. Perspectives of Information Technologies Development
2.3.2. Perspectives of Scientific Developments in ICT and other Modern Technologies
The Law “On Science” which is currently being discussed in Parliament is likely to be adopted in the near future. It focuses on scientific research. The law is intended to promote efforts to make scientific research in Azerbaijan more competitive and more focused in finding solutions to problems in sustainable and human centered development, project and budget management. The expected increase of state budget revenues will create the opportunity to involve state funds in research institutes and establishments and to promote hi-tech research and train personnel to work with information technologies.
Meanwhile, a developed network throughout Azerbaijan's universities and scientific organizations ensures annual graduation of some 2,000 certified specialists with basic knowledge and skills related to ICT professional use. The State University of Baku, the Oil Academy and the Institute of Cybernetics of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan lead the educational and scientific institutes in successfully training IT specialists and conducting fundamental and applied research. These institutes have accumulated their own experience of applied and practical work related to fundamental sciences; production processes management systems and IT applications in the field of communications, including satellite and fiber optic communications.
The Azeri Scientific Research Network Association (ASRNA) was established to develop research-related ideas and projects, such as appropriate methods to promote ICT achievement and to apply such technologies in the oil and gas industry and other industry branches. This association helps to promote the implementation of ICT and develop new technologies. ASRNA will promote linking universities and research agencies with the help of fiber optic systems, designated for local communication, as well as radio communication and satellite communication. This should improve the quality of research. The E-readiness study of Azerbaijan indicates that Azerbaijan's scientific research potential was appreciated as one of the highest during a series of meetings held by NATO in the Caspian area.
Oil comprises the major sector of Azerbaijan's economy and its demand for technologies stimulates the development of applications both in ICT or institutional development oriented to other science and technology branches. One of the main achievements of the national scientific research institutes was their development of a strong mathematical model based on Fuzzy Logic for optimal placement of platforms in the oilfields.
The Institute of Cybernetics of the National Academy of Sciences (ICNAS), one of the leaders in the technological intellectual market, offers its products not only to the oil sector, but also covers fields of medicine and other applications. The most important development by ICNAS for the oil and gas sector is software for diagnostics of sea oil and gas production platforms, and diagnostics for the process of drilling and determination of seismic stability of the deepwater sea stationary platforms.
The political goals brought about by sustainable development programs will create the institutional base and resource base for the rehabilitation of multi-profile production of goods and services. On the one hand, the ICT sector is the most important infrastructure for the production of goods and for the provision of interaction between manufacturers of goods at both local and international markets. On the other hand, ICT increases efficiency and the commercial level of manufacturers, which, in turn, enables them to supply the market with hi-tech and a wide range of goods.
Taking into account the great potential of human capital and the results that already have been achieved in both hardware and institutional issues, the following forecasts can be made:
- The country's scientific, technical, economic, intellectual potential will facilitate the increase of ICT-production export and services;
- Over the 10 years of the Strategy's duration, Azerbaijan can increase exporting ICT productions and ICT-services tens of times to reach the level of $500 million by 2011;
- Azerbaijan can become a center of Trans-Caspian Cybernetic Market (TCCM);
- Azerbaijan can become an e-Business integrator in Trans-Caspian region. Fulfillment of these goals will depend wholly on the government's efforts to lessen dependence on the oil sector.
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