The 2nd Youth Networking Forum Took Place

On August 31, 2025, the opening ceremony of the “2nd Youth Networking Forum for Youth in Support of the Sustainable Development Goals” was held at the “INNOLAND” Incubation and Acceleration Center. The event began with the State Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan, followed by a one-minute silence in memory of our martyrs.

The purpose of the forum was to promote networking among youth and knowledge exchange on innovation and the Sustainable Development Goals. Within the framework of the forum, opening speeches, panel discussions, and team-building games were organized. Participants, representatives of government bodies, and innovation centers came together to discuss new opportunities for collaboration.

During the opening panel, the project manager Nigar Isgandarova spoke about the essence of the event and the panel discussions awaiting guests. Speeches were also delivered by Rustam Hasanov, Adviser to the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources; Seyfur Hacimuradov, representative of the Youth Foundation of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Vurgun Hajiyev, Adviser to the Board of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency; Nigar Khidirova from the Agrarian Innovation Center; Nicat Amiraslanov, Director of the “INNOLAND” Incubation and Acceleration Center; and Etibar Khidirov, Head of the Supportive Community Center and expert of the “SDG Youth Community” initiative group.

The forum began with the first panel on “Digital Development Agenda: SDGs in the Era of Innovation,” moderated by PhD candidate Mirlazim Dadashov from Bahçeşehir University. Panelists Samir Qadirov, Community Head at SABAH.HUB Innovation Center; Nurlan Ahmadov, lecturer at Baku State University; Tural Rahimov, Digital Media Planner at Universal McCann Azerbaijan; and Vurgun Hajiyev, Adviser to the Board of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency, discussed the impact of digital development on SDGs.

The second panel, titled “Digital Development and New Approaches in Management,” was moderated by business development expert Rashid Bayramli. Panelists included ERP systems expert Aytan Vahidova, transport expert Rauf Agamirzayev, Head of Department at the Social Research Center Seymur Aliyev, and IT management expert Serkhan Talibzade, who presented modern approaches applied in digital management.

Following the panels, a team-building game was organized, moderated by Hunar Alkhanov, member and Communications Manager of the National Board of ESN Azerbaijan. Participants also discussed collaboration opportunities with various organizations during networking breaks.

The event concluded with an awards ceremony and commemorative photographs.

The “Introduction to Data Science and Machine Learning” bootcamp continues!

 On September 29, as part of the bootcamp organized in collaboration with INNOLAND and Turkey’s innovative education and technology company MIUUL, a session on “Python Programming for Data Science” was held.

During the session, participants analyzed tasks and quiz results, had their questions answered, and discussed their understanding of the material.

On September 14, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, attended the opening of the first phase of the "SABAH.city" innovation campus, established in the High Tech Park of the Ministry of Science and Education in Baku. The State Public Services (ASAN) Artificial Intelligence Center has also been established here. Ulvi Mehdiyev, Chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, informed President Ilham Aliyev about the ASAN Artificial Intelligence Center, the INNOLAND Incubation & Acceleration Center, and the "AI Assistant" project of the State Public Services. The ASAN Artificial Intelligence Center was established to support innovative initiatives in the field of artificial intelligence in Azerbaijan, bring together researchers, state institutions, the private sector, and individual users on a single digital platform (www.asanhub.ai), and strengthen cooperation between government, business, and educational institutions by promoting an open innovation model. To date, a total of 50 artificial intelligence solutions have been presented. The ASAN Artificial Intelligence Center has established partnerships with 8 universities operating in the country, the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, several prestigious foreign universities (Tsinghua University (China), Oxford University (United Kingdom), and Boğaziçi University (Turkey)), as well as other prominent international partners. To date, 150 startups have benefited from the "INNOLAND" Incubation and Acceleration Center of the State Public Services, with 4 startups acquired by foreign investors. The "AI Assistant" platform allows users to access information on various operational areas of the State Public Services in a fast, simple, and conversational format, as well as perform analysis and forecasting.

Details: https://president.az/az/articles/view/73495