A press conference was held on the results of the Innovation Festival (InnoFest), which was first held in Azerbaijan from May 29 to June 4.
At the press conference it was informed that the festival was held at the initiative and organizational support of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies jointly with the Ministry of Youth and Sport, Ministry of Education, Heydar Aliyev Center, Azerbaijan Youth Foundation, United Nations Development Programme, the United States Embassy in Azerbaijan and company Azercell.
The international Lightest Forum was organized as part of InnoFest. The event was attended by the specialists of Data Processing Center of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies and foreign experts. This project serves the implementation of reliable transactions and verification of identification data in cross-border electronic services between the European Union and Azerbaijan, mutual recognition of electronic signatures of partner countries at the international level.
On May 29-30, Baku hosted next workshop on the 4th ICT innovation and startup ecosystems within the framework of the Harmonization of Digital Markets (HDM) of the Eastern Partnership countries of the European Union.
EU4Digital program co-organized by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies and Ernst & Young was presented on May 31 within the Innovation Festival. The main goal of this program is to spread the benefits of the EU single digital market in the Eastern Partnership countries.
Monex Summit took place from May 30 to June 1. The event brought together leaders of financial technology and the banking industry. The summit was held with the official support of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies, Heydar Aliyev Center, Financial Market Supervisory Authority, the Central Bank and co-organized by American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (Amcham) and FA International Trade Events.
On 1-3 June, Azerbaijan hosted the first Youth Internet Governance Forum. It was organized by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies, Azerbaijan Youth Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme.
On June 1-2, InnoFest Village was organized in the park of Heydar Aliyev Center.
As part of InnoFest Village, Baku Open Cyber Cup e-sports tournament was organized on June 1. A tournament was organized on two types of games (PES 2019) on the playstation platform by Azerbaijan eSports Federation. The first place was taken by Orkhan Yusifli, the second – Vusal Veliyev, and the third – Turgut Mammadli.
On June 2, TechFest exhibition was organized at InnoFest Village. The exhibition was held for the first time in Baku with the support of the US Embassy in Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies and Mars Academy. During the exhibition, the project authors made presentations. First place was taken by project Additional Electric Supply for Electric Cars, the second – Invisible Energy, and the third – Click Energy.
On the same day, the project “From Idea to Business – I2B Junior” was presented.
The winners of the Baku Finals of the project “From Idea to Business” were also announced. The winners were projects NanoDesal (Baku State University), HealWith (Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry), AgroShare (Azerbaijan Technical University). All the three projects became eligible to participate in the summer camp Innocamp that will be held in late August, together with the winners from 12 regions.
In addition, the Azerbaijani Final of the International Drone Olympiad was held. 25 students (between 7-12 years old) from public and private secondary schools of Baku and Sumgayit took part in the competition. The competition was held in three categories. Thus, the first place in the category Drone Race was taken by Eldar Mustafayev, the second place – Emil Abbasov, the third place – Omar Hajihasanli. In the category Drone Football, the first three places were taken by Saleh Guluzade and Omar Hajihasanli, the second place – Polad Ismaılly and Narmin Mammadova, and the third place – Eldar Mustafayev and Javanshir Hajihasanli. And in the category of Drone Challenge, the first place went to Eldar Mustafayev. Omar Hajihasanli and Ali Mamadguliyev took the 2nd and 3rd places, respectively. The winners were awarded the first drone pilot certificates in Azerbaijan.
On June 3, the Forum “Made in Azerbaijan: Innovations and Technologies” was organized. The event featured presentations and discussions on the prospects for exporting local innovation products and technologies, the development of innovative business ecosystems, promotion of the use of manufactured products and services by both private and public sector throughout the country.
The 3rd Robot Olympiad among teens and young adults aged 8 to19, which took place on June 4, was the final event of the Innovation Festival. It was held with the support of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies, organized jointly with Azerbaijan Robotics and Engineering Academy and the Public Association Center for Education, Training and Youth Development.
It should be noted that a total of more than 1500 people attended the International Lightest Forum organized within the framework of InnoFest, ICT innovation and startup ecosystems workshop, EU4 Digital program presentations, the Monex Summit, the Youth Internet Governance Forum, the Forum “Made in Azerbaijan: Innovations and Technologies” and the 3rd Robot Olympiad. 158 of the participants were foreign guests.
Over 1800 local residents and more than 300 foreigners visited the InnoFest Village.
