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Research is a strategic driver of innovation, national development and global competitiveness, says Elchin Babayev, rector of Baku State University (BSU).

“BSU is deeply committed to ensuring that its research activities go beyond academic outputs and contribute directly to national development, industry innovation, and scientific progress,” Babayev says.

With more than 80 scientific areas supported by 119 chairs across 16 faculties, two dedicated research institutes, five research centres, and 22 modern laboratories, the university “provides a robust foundation for research”, Babayev says.

Local, regional, and global collaborations and partnerships are vital to the university’s research and innovation strategy. “The university has built a strong network for collaboration with international partners, government bodies and industry stakeholders,” Babayev says. “This integrates academic excellence and practical application.”

BSU has signed direct cooperation agreements with more than 150 universities and scientific centres around the world. These agreements form the foundation for joint scientific research, collaborative grant projects, co-publications, shared access to scientific infrastructure and jointly organised international conferences and symposiums. 

“Such partnerships not only elevate BSU’s global scientific standing but also provide its faculty and students with opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research aligned with global innovation priorities,” he says.

BSU’s collaboration strategy is not one-directional, Babayev says. “It creates a continuous exchange of knowledge and expertise. International and industry experts contribute to training students and faculty, while BSU researchers develop solutions that respond to local and regional challenges, and in turn contribute back to global science.”

But BSU’s excellent research and innovation would not be possible without its students and faculty, he says. They are at the heart of the university’s research and innovation strategy. More than a quarter of BSU’s publications result from collaborations between academics and graduate students. “The university is committed to mentoring the next generation of researchers,” he says. 

A central pillar of the university’s approach is student-led scientific activity, with student scientific societies operating across all faculties. These societies organise seminars, conferences and research discussions. Students also participate in grant-funded and contract-based projects with industry, giving them the experience and networks that will prepare them for the world of work, he says. 

Students have open access to the university’s laboratories and scientific infrastructure, combined with hands-on mentoring from senior staff. “This open-door policy fosters both inclusivity and creativity,” he says.

The university also offers high-performing students employment opportunities during their studies to retain talent. It also invests in international mobility and organises international scientific to partner institutions abroad for students and faculty. Doctoral students benefit from the guidance of two supervisors, one from BSU and a renowned researcher from a foreign institution.

To enhance the relevance of its research, the university has identified several focus areas that reflect both national priorities – such as economic diversification, sustainability and technological development – and international innovation trends. These areas include physics and space sciences, earth sciences and environment, chemistry and materials science, life sciences and biology, and mathematics and computer sciences. 

At the same time, the university actively encourages interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research. “This approach encourages faculty and students to address complex scientific and societal challenges by integrating knowledge and methodologies across multiple fields,” he says. In fact, two-thirds of the university’s publications are multidisciplinary. 

“By linking research outcomes directly with societal and economic needs, the university ensures that its knowledge creation has a tangible impact,” Babayev says.