A republican conference titled “Scientific and Practical Problems of Ensuring the Cyber Sovereignty of the State” was held at the Institute of Information Technology of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The conference was jointly organized by the Institute of Information Technology, the Heydar Aliyev Academy of the State Security Service, Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU), and the Azerbaijan Cybersecurity Organizations Association.
At the opening ceremony, Vice-President of ANAS and Director General of the Institute of Information Technology, Academician Rasim Aliguliyev, noted that in recent years cybersecurity and cyber sovereignty issues have become one of the priority directions of state policy as the processes of digital transformation accelerate in the country. He emphasized that the conference was dedicated to discussing the scientific-theoretical and practical challenges of ensuring the state’s cyber sovereignty, possible solutions, existing approaches, and the outcomes of ongoing research in this field.
He also highlighted that the adoption of the “Digital Development Concept of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” the “Artificial Intelligence Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2025–2028,” and the determination of a unified action plan for “Azerbaijan’s new digital architecture” have further increased the relevance of scientifically grounded approaches and institutional cooperation in this area. In his extensive presentation titled “A Sustainable and Secure Digital Architecture as a Guarantee of the State’s Cyber Sovereignty,” the academician focused on the necessity of forming a new digital architecture in Azerbaijan and on developing its scientific and technological foundations in the context of global technological challenges.
In his speech, Elshad Nasirov, the head of the Heydar Aliyev Academy of the State Security Service, addressed the issue of cyber sovereignty from the perspective of national security and state interests. He noted that the rapid development of digital technologies is creating new challenges and requirements for state sovereignty. According to him, cyberspace is no longer merely a technological domain but has become a significant strategic environment influencing political, economic, social, and cultural processes. Therefore, protecting the cyber sovereignty of states is of special importance as an integral component of national security.
He also stressed that under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, important steps have been taken in the country toward building a digital state, implementing artificial intelligence technologies, and advancing the digitalization of society. In this context, strengthening Azerbaijan’s cybersecurity and cyber sovereignty remains one of the key priorities. He expressed confidence that such scientific conferences will play an important role in discussing current issues related to cyber sovereignty and developing new approaches.
During the event, Davud Rustamov, Head of the National Cybersecurity Center of the State Security Service, spoke about the main areas of activity of the Center, sectors identified as critical information infrastructure, and the regulatory mechanisms established in this field. Referring to the Presidential Decree of April 17, 2021, “On Certain Measures to Ensure the Security of Critical Information Infrastructure,” he noted that the document laid the foundation for the formation of a unified and systematic cybersecurity ecosystem in the country. He emphasized that cybersecurity has become one of the key pillars of state security and that the theme of the conference is highly relevant and strategically important in the modern era.
Speaking at the event, Professor Vilayat Valiyev, Rector of Azerbaijan Technical University, stated that cyber sovereignty is one of the most important elements of state sovereignty in the 21st century. Emphasizing the necessity of developing highly qualified human resources in this field, he noted that higher education institutions bear significant responsibility in this regard. According to the rector, training a new generation of specialists capable of contributing to digital transformation is of great importance for the country’s cybersecurity and technological development.
The event also featured speeches by Tural Mammadov, Deputy Head of the Main Department of the Special Communication and Information Security State Service, Rauf Jabarov, Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Cybersecurity Organizations Association, and Osman Gunduz, President of the Internet Development Forum of Azerbaijan and Director of the Multimedia Center. In their remarks, the speakers emphasized that strengthening the protection of state information systems is one of the main directions of ensuring cyber sovereignty and that combating risks and threats emerging in cyberspace requires cooperation between state institutions, the scientific community, and civil society. They noted that in the context of rapid digital transformation and the development of artificial intelligence, protecting cyber sovereignty has become one of the key pillars of national security, and consistent measures are being implemented in this field in the country.
At the end of the session, Academician Rasim Aliguliyev highly appreciated the views and proposals presented by scientists, experts, representatives of state institutions, and civil society regarding current cybersecurity challenges. He expressed his deep gratitude to the leadership of the Ministry of Science and Education, the State Security Service, the Special Communication and Information Security State Service, and representatives of the civil society sector for their support in organizing the event.
The conference then continued its work with panel sessions.
