Open Innovations Startup Tour has come to an end

The two-day event, which was held for the first time in Baku on 17-18 April within Open Innovations Startup Tour 2017, has come to an end. 
 
The main objective of Open Innovations Startup Tour is to support the realization of promising and innovative projects in the field of high technologies.   
 
The two-day event was attended by representatives from Russia’s Skolkovo technopark, startups, and business organizations.
 
The event served as a useful platform for establishing cooperation and exchanging experiences among startups and business representatives.    
 
Addressing the startups on the 2^nd day of the event, Executive Director of the State Fund for Development of Information Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan Elchin Zeynalov said that the development of innovative ecosystem in our country is a matter of great importance today.
 
“The state provides necessary support for the creation of favorable conditions for developing the startup movement in Azerbaijan.
 
Thus, according to the order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Fund for Development of Information Technologies was established under the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies in 2012 to provide financial support to innovative enterprises engaged in intellectual business activities.  
 
That is why we are delighted that this year’s Open Innovations Startup Tour has been held in Azerbaijan.
 
At the same time, such events allow us to get information on our Russian colleagues’ experience and to strengthen cooperation in the field of high technologies,” Elchin Zeynalov said.
 
 Vice-President on Science & Education of Skolkovo Foundation Nikolai Suetin, in his turn, expressed satisfaction with the fact that Open Innovations Startup Tour had been held in Azerbaijan.  
 
“Economically, the two countries are very similar to each other: there is a significant focus on the raw materials sector.
 
The Azerbaijani leadership is trying to diversify the economy and develop the innovations sphere.
 
In this context, Skolkovo’s experience will be very useful for our Azerbaijani colleagues.  
 
Our startups will also benefit from this cooperation, because it will open new markets and new opportunities for them.         
 
I hope that the work we have done during the two-days will be a good start for establishing long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
 
The winner of Open Innovations Startup Tour on Azerbaijan’s part and the co-author of ‘Lia’ project Arif Movsumzadeh said that they had been working on this project for two years. 
 
It is very important to get expert opinion from leading experts.
 
The mentors gave us valuable advice on how to make the project more     user-friendly and competitive.   
 
It's a very good thing that Skolkovo Foundation has moved beyond Russia, because this allows us to enter new markets and expand cooperation with foreign startups and business organizations,” Nikolai Suetin said.   

---