Facebook recently reminded me that in 2019 the first International event in Baku on the subject of "TRIZ PROBLEMS" took place. The conference was organized by the "Innovation Management and TRIZ Institute," founded by Prof. Ali Kutvan. Those interested in TRIZ can find detailed information on the Internet in Russian, English, and Turkish. I recommend doing so.​

TRIZ is an abbreviation in Russian for the "Theory of Inventive Problem Solving." To date, more than 10,000 algorithms for inventive technologies have been developed, and all of them have computer implementations.​

TRIZ has become widespread in countries that have chosen paths of innovative development — Japan, China, South Korea, the USA, Germany, and others. In some countries it is taught as a subject in schools and universities and is even included in university entrance exams. Why? Because this technology is the most successful method for resolving contradictions in complex social and technical systems and for generating innovations that draw from different fields.​

I have been interested in TRIZ problems since the Soviet period. Back then we read one or two books on the subject. We were also informed about the "TRIZ school" that G. Altshuller established under the Baku Knowledge Society. We were proud that this technology had been developed in Baku and that its founder, G. Altshuller, was from Baku.

Five years ago this event invited some of the world’s strongest TRIZ specialists — TRIZ MASTERS — from various countries. They all participated in the event with satisfaction, because they were all from Baku: born here, raised here, educated at AZİ, and graduates of the "Baku TRIZ school," which was founded under Altshuller’s leadership for the first time in the world.

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They were all Jewish by nationality. They love Baku and our people, and they promote us in the countries where they live.

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After the dissolution of the USSR, Altshuller and his students dispersed to different countries. At that time TRIZ was still little known worldwide (for well-known reasons) and was rarely applied. This team popularized TRIZ around the world and achieved its application in the largest and most famous companies. Each of them became owners of TRIZ businesses valued in the hundreds of millions.​ At the conference I asked the well-known TRIZ specialist Petrova, who presented there, the following question: “If artificial intelligence masters TRIZ technology, millions of people will be able to make inventions and innovations. In that case, will TRIZ specialists still be needed?” Petrova answered this question very reluctantly and awkwardly, giving only a partial response. It was clear that we had touched a sore spot and that this issue worried her greatly. After Petrova, twenty renowned TRIZ specialists spoke at the conference. Each speaker began their presentation by responding to the question I had posed to Petrova. It became apparent that this question had been troubling each of them for many years and that they were very concerned about the course of events (the rapid development of artificial intelligence). Because in that case the future of their companies — with annual turnovers in the hundreds of millions — was uncertain. It seems there was already a need to discuss this problem together. Presumably, discussions continued in private after the conference.​ My reason for recalling all this is to draw the state’s attention to the matter of TRIZ. Why are we indifferent to the TRIZ technology created in Baku and widely applied in the science, education, and industry of all developed countries?

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Professor Ali Kutvan established the Innovation Management and TRIZ Institute in Baku several years ago. I believe that, on this basis and with support from the state and the private sector, it is possible to achieve the development of TRIZ technologies in our country. In particular, ETN, IN, and RIN should pay attention to this issue. Even though five years have passed since the conference, this matter still deserves attention.