On 19 February, 2021, an online workshop on OpenAIRE was held for the researchers of IIT of ANAS with the  organization of EU-funded EapConnect2 and project partner AzScienceNet. 

In the beginning of workshop director of IIT of ANAS, vice prsident of ANAS Rasim Alguliyev highlighted the benefits of collaboration between GEANT and AzScienceNet for the research and education community of Azerbaijan, underlined the importance of workshop for individual scientists and scientific community. “Joining the GEANT 's EaPConnect project has played an important role in the formation of AzScienceNet as a research and education network".  In the second project phase, we are going to have high-quality content from the European research community, the next step of integrating into the European research and education community”,  academician underlined.

Senior International Relations Project Manager at GÉANT Veronika Di Luna praised the work done to integrate science and education in Azerbaijan, noting that the institute will provide the necessary support to further expand cooperation with GEANT. She said that the main purpose of the event is to inform researchers about open science and familiarize them with relevant experience.  "I really urge IIT of ANAS colleagues to engage with OpenAIRE through the AzScienceNet series of workshops, to ensure that you benefit most from this infrastructure, ”she noted. 

Then Iryna Kuchma, Regional OpenAIRE Coordinator for the Eastern Region, Iryna Kuchma, made a report on OpenAIRE and the rules of its use. He gave an overview of the system, its history and stages of development, the project partners. She noted that the portal is an initiative supported by the European Commission aimed at developing Open Science in Europe to accelerate research and innovation. The portal has services for researchers, research community, content providers, managers, scientific journals and repositories.  She also spoke about the features and advantages of the system, the wide range of opportunities offered to scientists and specialists. 

At the end of online workshop, there was an extensive discussion. Corresponding members of ANAS, Doctors of Technical Sciences Masuma Mammadova and Ramiz Aliguliyev, Doctor of Philosophy in Technology, Associate Professor Zarifa Jabrayilova, Head of Department Madina Saidova, Head of International Relations Department, PhD,   Babak Nabiyev and Senior Researcher Konul Dashdamirova took part in the discussions and voiced their questions and suggestions.  They expressed their interest towards OpenAIRE and emphasized the importance of further workshops and webinars.