Baku: Trkiye and Azerbaijan are pursuing new cooperation and training agreements to bolster bilateral relations in the domains of space, aviation, science, and technology.
According to Anadolu Agency, Azerbaijan's space agency Azercosmos and Trkiye-based Gokmen Space and Aviation Training Center (GUHEM) have signed a cooperation agreement named 'Startech.' As part of this initiative, a delegation of 26 Azerbaijani students from six universities visited leading Turkish defense and technology firms. The student delegation also had the opportunity to meet Trkiye's first and second space travelers, Alper Gezeravci and Tuva Cihangir Atasever, and received a two-day training at GUHEM during their visit starting on March 14.
The partnership in space technology gained momentum following the Teknofest Baku event in 2022, which is an Azerbaijani extension of the world's largest space and aviation festival organized by Trkiye. Baku hosted the 74th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in 2022, and Trkiye is set to host the event in 2026, marking another significant occasion to advance space and aviation operations between the two nations.
Elza Samedli, the science and higher education director at Azercosmos, emphasized that the primary aim of the Startech project is to identify top Turkish tech institutions and evaluate the facilities and opportunities they offer, particularly in computer, software, and artificial intelligence studies. Samedli highlighted that the Startech project is designed to 'lay the foundation' for further cooperation between Trkiye and Azerbaijan.
Samedli shared the story of a student who attended presentations by Turkish defense firms Aselsan and Havelsan. The student, who lost his father in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, expressed that the technology developed by these Turkish firms could have saved lives during the war, while voicing a hope for peace.
Imran Muhtarov, director of Azercosmos Cosmic Academy, noted that the relations between the two countries are diversifying and strengthening. He emphasized the importance of providing opportunities for students and universities to exchange knowledge and experiences.
Halit Mirahmetoglu, general manager of GUHEM, stated that the Azerbaijani student delegation was trained on the basics of aviation and space at the facility and mentioned that Azerbaijani students will continue to visit Trkiye for such training sessions. He added that GUHEM hosted students from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan as part of programs initiated with the Organization of Turkic States, with plans to include more countries to benefit from Trkiye's 'National Technology Move.'