Turkish expert: Azerbaijan can turn into “laboratory of the future” in AI era

Azerbaijan should strive to become a global industrial pilot zone in the era of artificial intelligence, said Can Selçuki, Managing Partner of the Turkish research and data-consultancy organisation Istanbul Economics Research.

He made the statement during the first Azerbaijan International Investment Forum (AIIF 2025), Caliber.Az reports per local media.

The expert noted that Azerbaijan has three key advantages: its geographical location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Persian Gulf, which is especially important amid the restructuring of global supply chains; its energy potential; and its young population.

Selçuki emphasised that Azerbaijan’s main strategic task is not merely to serve as a transit corridor or another energy exporter.

“Azerbaijan should aim to become a global industrial pilot zone in the era of artificial intelligence. This means creating a kind of ‘sandbox’ where investors can test and implement new technologies. But this is only possible if these technologies are integrated into the country’s business environment itself,” he stressed.

The adoption of artificial intelligence technologies must take place at the very centre of industrial development, not on its periphery, Selçuki mentioned.

Selçuki gave examples such as AI-based logistics corridors that make trade faster and more predictable; “smart factories” where predictive systems increase efficiency and resilience; and educational and training platforms that adapt in real time to the needs of industry.

The expert is confident that Azerbaijan can become a “laboratory of the future,” where new technologies are tested, scaled, and exported.

“The question is whether Azerbaijan will be just a temporary host for capital or a partner with whom investors build the future. The answer lies in the choice of strategy: the country must move from oil dependency to a knowledge- and technology-based economy,” Selçuki concluded.

By Khagan Isayev