Baku, Azerbaijan – Azerbaijan is ramping up its efforts to modernize its industrial sector through the expanded rollout of the Industry 4.0 Readiness Program, an initiative implemented by 4SIM under the Ministry of Economy. The program aims to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies across enterprises nationwide by 2028.
Speaking at the Industry 4.0 Forum in Baku, Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov stated that the program—piloted last year in select private companies—is now entering a broader implementation phase.
“The goal is to stimulate the use of cutting-edge technologies with state support, ultimately increasing efficiency and business competitiveness,” said Jabbarov. “This year, the program will be expanded to include more enterprises.”
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As part of this vision, the Baku Business Center will be transformed into a national Industry 4.0 Hub, serving as a key accelerator and coordination platform. The center will connect industrial firms, tech providers, universities, and innovation centers to facilitate integration and real-world implementation of smart technologies.
Global Tech Partnerships Fuel the Ecosystem
According to Fariz Jafarov, Executive Director of the Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4SIM), Azerbaijan is building a global network of partnerships to advance its Industry 4.0 ecosystem.
“Technology alone is not enough. Human capital—knowledge and skills—is equally important,” Jafarov told reporters. “Startups also play a vital role, and we’ve signed several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to deepen collaboration.”
Confirmed partnerships include:
Honeywell (USA)
CMS & CMC (Japan)
Koç Digital and MEXT Tech Center (Turkey)
Festo (Germany), known for designing industrial training programs for Mercedes-Benz and others.
The Industry 4.0 Center will offer hands-on access to robotics, smart production lines, cloud computing, digital twins, simulations, and VR/AR solutions. Customized training for managers at all levels will also be delivered on-site.
Jafarov also revealed plans to bring Plug & Play Tech Center—a Silicon Valley-based global startup accelerator—to Azerbaijan. “This could significantly strengthen the startup pipeline and attract international innovation into our industrial ecosystem,” he noted.
