Azerbaijan to support developers of domestic software platforms

/By Azernews/

By Nigar Abbasova

The Azerbaijan State Fund for Development of Information Technologies will render all necessary assistance to the developers of domestic software platforms, Yashar Hajiyev, Head of the Research Center for Information.

He also mentioned that the use of software based on the domestic platforms is one of the main criteria of the forth grant competition held by the fund.

“Previously grants were presented for certain software based on famous infrastructural platforms. Currently we are mainly focused on the projects based on our own platforms. We admit that the requirement has a high level of difficulty nevertheless the competitors have a chance to develop prospective and promising start-up project and get necessary support for its further improvement,” he said.

He also stressed that infrastructure projects have a wide coverage which in its turn may trigger the progress of engineering developments. The projects may include simplification of telecommunication services, solutions in the sphere of health care, education as well as engineering solution such as equipment and devices.

“We are expecting to get a diverse approach. Those wishing to participate in the competition have should submit their proposals within the framework of 2 month. The period will let them thoroughly investigate the issue,” he added.

“The emphasis will also be made on the expansion of e-services in the regions of the country which may include services of municipal authorities and bodies of executive power. The main feature is new ways of thinking and innovative approach,” he said.

The State Fund for Information Technologies Development provides grant funding for start-up projects which are selected on a competitive basis. The financing is provided from the country’s state budget.

Being established in March 2012 the State Fund for Information Technologies Development operates under the Ministry of Communications and High Technologies.

The main objective of the fund is to carry out state policy on the development and support of small enterprises in science and technology, providing them with direct financial assistance and training which, in its turn, will contribute to the creation of new jobs.

Meanwhile, formation of e-government in Azerbaijan is considered to be one of the important tasks of the National Strategy for information and communications technologies for the development the country. The e-government portal which was launched in the country in 2013 has allowed state institutions to establish e-service sections on their websites. All services provided by Azerbaijani government agencies are expected to be online by 2020.