Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Gila Gamliel today signed a new Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation with Azerbaijan, which marks a significant step in the deepening of ties between the two countries in the field of space.
The Minister and her counterpart, the Azerbaijan Minister of Digital Development and Transportation, Rashad Nabiyev, signed the agreement, which opens up new opportunities for scientific and technological cooperation between the countries, and contributes significantly to deepening the ties between the space agencies, for the promotion of scientific-technological education, and nurturing the next generation of leaders in the global space industry.
At the beginning of her remarks, the minister commented that she met two years ago with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and that she sees great importance in strengthening the ties between the countries. She thanked her colleague Nabiyev for his visit to Israel, while expressing hope that the agreement will lead to joint initiatives and projects in the field of space and science. "The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with Azerbaijan is an important milestone in the relations between the countries and in the promotion of cooperation in the fields of science and space", said Minister Gamliel, "The integration of students from both countries in the Space Olympiad creates an international community of young scientists, engineers and space researchers, who will lead innovation in the field in the future. The collaboration reflects the importance we place on high-quality science and technology education and the development of the next generation of space industry leaders. We see Azerbaijan as an important strategic partner in the region and believe that this cooperation will yield significant results for the benefit of both countries."
Hands-on experience in the field of space
The agreement focuses on promoting joint educational activities in the field of space education, with one of the main projects in the cooperation being the expansion of the Ramon Israeli Space Olympiad to the international arena. The Olympiad offers students a structured development track that focuses on the topics of space stations (for middle schools) and space suits (for elementary schools). As part of the program, about 11,000 students from Israel and 700 students from Azerbaijan participate in the competition, which offers them a unique opportunity for hands-on experience in the field of space.
The students participating in the project will acquire many essential skills in the field of scientific research together with advanced learning strategies, they will make an in-depth acquaintance with the space industry, and gain experience in project management, teamwork, and intercultural and interlinguistic communication. The culmination of the cooperation will take place in the grand finals of the Space Olympiad, which will be held in Israel in May 2025, where the outstanding projects of the students from both countries will be presented.
Azerbaijan is in fact the first country to join the Space Olympics, with the aim of expanding the competition's activities to the international arena and opening up the opportunity for other countries to participate. As part of the cooperation between the two countries, a delegation from the Israel Space Agency has set out to train teachers in Azerbaijan. In addition, a joint training course for teachers from both countries is expected to be opened, which will create an international community of educators in the field of space.
The Director of the Israel Space Agency, Brig. Gen. (res.) Uri Oron, welcomed the agreement between the space agencies and noted that the inclusion of students from Azerbaijan in the Space Olympiad opens up new opportunities for scientific and technological joint ventures and serves as a first step on the way to turning the Olympiad into a global educational platform.
Closer collaboration: space education, scientific research, and more
The MoU signed today also includes other areas of joint activity, such as joint scientific research, with support for joint educational and scientific projects, seminars, symposia, and other scientific meetings.
The new cooperation between the countries is based on strategic relations that have been growing closer in recent years. In 2023, at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) held in Baku, it was decided to turn the Ramon Space Olympiad in Israel, which the Israel Space Agency has been leading for years, into an international project with the participation of Azerbaijan.
In the same year, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) won a project for the development of satellites, for the Azeri Space Agency, at an estimated value of $120 million. In July 2022, as part of Minister Nabiyev's visit to Israel an agreement was signed between the Technion and Azerbaijan for the establishment of a cyber training center in Baku. During that same visit, an agreement on aviation was also signed between the countries. In addition, in November 2023, as part of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, representatives of the two countries met and an announcement was made for the resumption of regular flights between the countries.