BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 27. IE University
aims to foster the development of a business culture in Azerbaijan,
the creation of innovative companies, and the realization of the
country's potential on an international scale, Executive President
of IE University, Santiago Iñiguez de Onzoño, said at the opening
ceremony of the IE Center for Leadership and Innovation in Baku
today, Trend’s
correspondent reports from the event.


The executive president noted that the idea of establishing a
new center in Baku took shape based on discussions held over the
past year and a shared vision among the partners. Emphasizing that
Azerbaijan possesses great potential for the development of
entrepreneurship, the head of the university noted that favorable
conditions exist for fostering an active entrepreneurial culture in
the country.


"We also see a sense of urgency in this initiative. We want to
witness more entrepreneurs creating new companies in Baku, Central
Asia, and other parts of the world over the next 5 to 10 years," he
remarked.


Santiago Iñiguez de Onzoño pointed out that one of the core
concepts of this project is to connect various initiatives through
education and unite them around a common goal.


Speaking about the university's development history, the
executive president said that competing with the world's leading
higher education institutions required a bold approach from the
very beginning. According to him, to rapidly evolve into a
prestigious institution, IE University adopted a philosophy
centered on thinking differently, moving beyond traditional
approaches, and embracing innovation.


He emphasized that this approach is also being instilled in
entrepreneurs: those entering established industries should not
merely replicate existing models, but rather think unconventionally
to create new opportunities.


"We aim to spread our values, such as entrepreneurship,
innovation, a belief in the power of education to transform lives,
and the advantages of technology, throughout Baku, Azerbaijan, and
the broader region," he explained.







The executive president also noted that his meeting with
graduates of the joint MBA program in Baku left a positive
impression. According to him, the graduates' desire to drive change
within their own organizations, and the initiative they have shown
in this regard, were particularly noteworthy.


He also mentioned that he met with the university administration
and students and held an interactive discussion regarding the
impact of artificial intelligence on various industrial
sectors.


"One of the most significant observations from our visit this
morning was the presence of talented individuals in the country
with great potential. If this potential is properly harnessed, it
could generate significant added value, lead to the emergence of
new startups and companies, and accelerate economic growth," de
Onzoño said.


He added that the international operations of IE University are
not limited to its main campus in Spain. The university began
operations in New York a few years ago and also maintains
leadership and innovation centers in Riyadh. Furthermore, there are
plans to open an innovation center at the University of California,
Berkeley, in the near future.


According to the Executive President of IE University, the IE
Leadership and Innovation Center established in Baku could serve as
a vital platform for combining international expertise with local
potential, promoting entrepreneurship, and expanding opportunities
for innovation.