With the support of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IRIA) and organized by SUP VC, a panel discussion titled INNOSTART on the topic “Support for Azerbaijani Startups” was held at Nakhchivan State University.

The panel featured Nijat Amiraslanov, Head of the “INNOLAND” Incubation and Acceleration Center, Mubariz Shahbazli, Director of the UNEC Incubation Center, and Huseyn Asgarli, Head of the IT Department of NSU, as speakers. The main purpose of the panel was to familiarize young people in the region with innovation and startup opportunities and to encourage them to engage in this field. During the panel, there was a broad exchange of views on state support mechanisms for startups, investment opportunities, and the innovation environment

"INNOLAND" Incubation and Acceleration Center of the State Agency for Citizen Services and Social Innovations under the President of Azerbaijan will start a Joint Acceleration Program with AzerGold CJSC. The goal is to bring together the precious metal industry's most emerging startups to stimulate inter-industry innovation, increase the effectiveness of processes and establish a new standard for this industry in Azerbaijan and the region. 

The startups eligible for this batch can be focused on:

• optimizing processes

• enhancing capabilities

• enhancing skills

• utilizing leading technologies

 within the precious metal industry and provide solutions that can be adapted to the needs of AzerGold CJSC. 

Along with innovative solutions for the precious metal industry, startups can offer solutions suitable for AzerGold’s organizational needs including:

• Mining

• Industrial

• Geology

• HR 

• Database / Digitalization

• Legal

• Finance

• Ecology

• HSE, etc

Criteria 

Other than being relevant to AzerGold CJSC’s activities, the selection criteria include:

1.Team: Minimum 2 People (No solo founders)

2. Minimum physical full-time presence on-site 1 Team member with good knowledge of English

3. Product: Developed or are developing a minimum viable product (MVP), Proof of concept

4. Market: Identified market and target segments

5. Pitch Deck needed 

6. Qualification and experience in the field of precious metals will be considered as a big advantage

7. Research for export opportunities and readiness to enter new markets

For registration: https://forms.gle/8YqYx6mh6d1J7sXd8

Students of "Kiber One Baku – International IT School" visited INNOLAND. The students became closely acquainted with the INNOLAND Incubation and Acceleration Center, discovering the innovation and startup ecosystem in our country. They received detailed information about the center’s goals and services, directly communicated with resident startups, asked questions, and explored real projects. As part of the visit, the children also observed the activities of the iLAB innovation laboratory, where they saw the process of turning creative ideas into prototypes.