Azerbaijan has signed the foundation document of international innovation centre of CIS nanotechnologies, which will operate in Dubna.
The event anticipates 2010, which was announced a year of sciences and innovatiosn in the CIS. The activity of the centre, which will operate using the capabilities of Dubna special economic zone, aims at developing CIS high-tech nano-industry market with international competitiveness.
The foundation documents have been signed by representatives of 14 organizations from nine countries. Azerbaijan will be informed about events taking place in the sphere of nanotechnologies both in the CIS countries and worldwide, and directly participate in scientific research works as a founder of the center.
Data bank with resources available to all countries joining to the centre will be created in Dubna. Construction of two centres on analogy of Silicon Valley is underway. Activity directions of the first centre will be related with computer technologies, and tasks of the second centre will include development in the sphere of nanotechnologies.
There exist high-level research and education institutes in CIS, but they are often isolated from the business world and do not pose critical mass needed for information. The center will become a "knowledge triangle", uniting education, researches, and innovations.
It will increase the countries' ability to apply the results of researches and designs in commercial innovations.
It is planned to create a network of branches and representative offices of the international innovation centre of nanotechnologies in the CIS countries till 2011. As one of the founders of the Innovation Centre, Azerbaijan has the right to put into operation a branch of the centre in the country.