IE University Opens Leadership and Innovation Center in Baku

By Amara Osei

IE University opened its new Center for Leadership and Innovation in Baku on October 27, betting that Azerbaijan can produce a wave of new companies across the region within a decade.

Executive President Santiago Iñiguez de Onzoño announced the launch at the center's opening ceremony, Trend's correspondent reported from the event. He said the university aims to foster a business culture in Azerbaijan, support the creation of innovative companies, and help the country realize its potential on an international scale.

The idea took shape over the past year, through discussions and a shared vision among the partners, de Onzoño said. He sees favorable conditions in Azerbaijan for building an active entrepreneurial culture.

What does the new center aim to change?

De Onzoño put a timeline on the ambition. "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 said.

One core concept of the project, he explained, is connecting various initiatives through education and uniting them around a common goal.

"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," de Onzoño said.

How does IE's own history shape the approach?

De Onzoño framed the Baku push through his university's own trajectory. Competing with the world's leading higher education institutions required a bold approach from the start, he said. To rapidly evolve into a prestigious institution, IE University adopted a philosophy of thinking differently, moving beyond traditional approaches, and embracing innovation.

He wants to instill that same mindset in entrepreneurs. Those entering established industries should not merely replicate existing models, he argued. They should think unconventionally to create new opportunities.

What did IE find on the ground in Baku?

De Onzoño's visit included meetings beyond the ceremony. His encounter with graduates of the joint MBA program in Baku left a positive impression, he said. The graduates' desire to drive change within their own organizations, and the initiative they showed in doing so, stood out.

He also met with university administrators and students, and held an interactive discussion on the impact of artificial intelligence on various industrial sectors.

Talent was his headline observation. "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.

Where does Baku fit in IE's global footprint?

IE University's international operations extend well beyond its main campus in Spain. The university began operations in New York a few years ago, de Onzoño noted, and it also maintains leadership and innovation centers in Riyadh. Plans call for another innovation center at the University of California, Berkeley, in the near future.

The Baku center, in de Onzoño's view, could become a vital platform for combining international expertise with local potential — promoting entrepreneurship and expanding opportunities for innovation. If his five-to-ten-year timeline holds, the test will be whether that combination produces the startups and economic growth he predicts.