1 week, 1 day ago
Panel Discussion Held at UFAZ with the Participation of Academia and Industry Representatives
On June 5, a panel discussion titled “Solving Industrial Challenges through Advanced Materials and Process Engineering” was held at UFAZ with the participation of industry professionals and academic researchers. The academic side was represented by Professor Seeram Ramakrishna from the National University of Singapore, Professor Tsutomu Ono from Okayama University (Japan), and Professor Christophe Serra from the University of Strasbourg (France). The industry was represented by Sevinc Ismayilova, a petrochemist from SOCAR Polymer; Ilgar Abdullayev, Road Infrastructure Expert at Holcim; Zeynab Kazan, Quality Manager Solutions & Products at Holcim; and Namig Suleymanov, Process & Process Safety Engineer at bp.
The event began with welcome remarks from Martin Godon, Secretary General of UFAZ. The panel discussion was moderated by Igor Nasirov, an expert in oil & gas and chemical engineering. The session started with the introduction of the panelists, followed by the moderator addressing the mostly student and young researcher audience, asking about their expectations from the discussion. After hearing several comments from the audience, the floor was given to the panelists.
Professor Seeram Ramakrishna emphasized the role of artificial intelligence as one of the major challenges of the modern era and noted how the industry is adapting accordingly. He highlighted that while academia proposes solutions, it is the industry that implements them, underlining the importance of collaboration.
One of the central topics of discussion was the goals, efficiency, and implementation mechanisms of the decarbonization process. Christophe Serra spoke about modern contributions to decarbonization, while Ilgar Abdullayev emphasized the importance of automation in these processes. He also touched on carbon-free material production, emission calculations, and the need for training qualified professionals in this field.
When the topic shifted to eco-friendly products, Professor Ramakrishna reminded the audience that recycling processes are not infinite and that residual waste still arises after certain cycles. He stressed that ensuring quality in industry begins at the academic level and cited the Singaporean model where industrial companies invest in educational institutions and support the development of professional talent.
Professor Tsutomu Ono attributed Japan’s industrial success to the highly competitive environment. Referring to the car producing sector, he pointed out that this competitiveness helps attract professionals and expand the influence of companies. He also emphasized that skill is the most powerful weapon for any expert.
Namig Suleymanov addressed current challenges related to the high costs of technologies used in decarbonization, recycling, and renewable energy systems. He underlined the importance of encouraging young people to present their own ideas to achieve technical improvements.
Ilgar Abdullayev further emphasized the significance of collaborative learning, academia-industry cooperation, field visits, and witnessing real industrial processes firsthand. In response, several students shared their recent field trip experiences.
In conclusion, the discussion turned to the professional and academic career prospects for students at both local and international levels, followed by practical advice from the guest experts.
