Through its established Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Program, CRDF provides business training to local researchers and introduces the local business community to their potential partners. In addition, this program offers learning environment for Azerbaijani entrepreneurs/companies to supplement their work experience by providing them with expert reviews of their business plans, helping them prepare concise presentations and executive summaries of their prospective technologies, and training them in pitching their concepts to an international audience of investors and potential strategic business partners. American experts are involved in providing the training.
CRDF awarded 4 grants with an overall total of $20,000 to teams of local researchers and entrepreneurs to work together to develop new technologies.
CRDF also awarded 10 travel grants to Azerbaijani scientist and engineers valued at about $28,000 to travel to the U.S. to meet potential private sector collaborators and receive training in technology transfer management, financing and business development.
R+D Partnerships for Petroleum Industry & Environmental Protection
In 2004 CRDF organized a commercialization seminar for scientists and entrepreneurs who are in the position to provide innovative technologies to the oil, gas, and environmental vectors. Enterprise Center (a BP-sponsored nonprofit) and the Science and Technology Center of Ukraine provided additional sponsorship for this seminar. The seminar included approximately 35 participants from Azerbaijan and seven others from the Caspian region.
The workshop covered the commercialization process, basic business, and opportunities in the oil, gas and environmental sectors. Participants learned about production and environmental remediation technologies from leading companies such as BP and the Caspian Drilling Company. Entrepreneurs from PetroChem, Total Energy and the Institute of Geology met with oil, gas, and environmental managers, including supply chain managers, who shared their current challenges and needs for technology and product innovation. In addition, participants were trained to apply for CRDF and other relevant grants which fund innovation projects for the ultimate benefit of industry.
CRDF Connected Science With Industry; Travel Grant to Dr. Feyzullayev
A travel grant to Dr. Akper Feyzullayev of the Institute of Geology of ANAS enabled him to attend the annual meeting of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Following the conference, the scientists traveled to Utah for the Central Caspian Phase II Industry Consortium Project, sponsored by the Energy and Geoscience Institute. There, Dr. Feyzullayev met with the representatives of BP, Chevron Texaco, ConocoPhillips, Petronoas, Occidental, Statoil, Shell and Wintershall.
Business-Science Collaboration; Solar-powered Sensor
The science team led by Dr. Nuru Safarov of the Institute of Physics partnered with Qafqaz Ltd., a private science and technology research company, to propose a new semiconductor device for automatic control of lighting. The transducer of these devices will run on photovoltaic- produced energy (solar), resulting in increased efficiency. Currently used automatic switches of illumination have some weaknesses, such as constructional and technological complexity, high cost etc. Using a photovoltaic element highly increases the efficiency and reduces the cost of the device. This new product has the potential to greatly reduce the consumption of electricity by increasing the sensitivity of the device which controls electric circuits. The team estimates potential sales revenues in the US market to be $14-$15 million.
