January 8, 2019, the presentation of the Acceleration of Startups in Agricultural Technologies program, which will be implemented by the INNOLAND Incubation and Acceleration Center of the State Agency for Citizen Services and Social Innovations under the President of Azerbaijan, with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan.

The event was addressed by the Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture of Azerbaijan on innovations Shabnam Mamedova, who noted in her speech that the use of innovations in the agricultural sector had already begun. Among the activities, the Acceleration program will be implemented during the first this year. The program applications has already been announced, which will last until January 20.

At the same time, Sh. Mamedova stressed that support is also provided for start-ups whose technologies and innovations can be applied in other areas.

The event discussed prospects for cooperation between the parties. It was also proposed to conduct incentive and stimulating activities for owners of ideas in the field of agriculture.

Note that INNOLAND is an incubation, acceleration and research center created for the development of the private sector in Azerbaijan, as well as outside, to encourage innovation and expand the startup movement. INNOLAND consists of a coworking center, incubation, acceleration, and the IT Training and Education Center.

"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

“ASAN Service” Hosts the “DIGIAGE BAKU 2025” Digital Game Camp

From December 5–7, 2025, the “DIGIAGE Baku 2025” digital game camp was organized as part of the collaboration between the Innovation Center of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and DIGIAGE.

The camp aimed to enable talented youth to create games and present their projects with the guidance of professional mentors. It also sought to help participants gain experience for entering the global market and foster new startup initiatives. Throughout the process, participants developed teamwork, project presentation, and marketing skills, strengthened their creative approaches, and prepared new game concepts. They also received valuable advice from industry experts on networking and career development.

In total, 238 applicants participated in the camp, including 28 teams and 134 individual applications. From these, 100 selected participants received two separate trainings over two weeks on data-driven game marketing and publishing processes.

During the three-day camp, participants who passed the selection stages took part individually or in teams. They learned about modern tools used in game development, different stages of game creation, and career opportunities in the sector. Representatives from well-known companies and game designers shared motivational experiences and insights.

Throughout the camp, Vüsal Rüstəmov, Director of the Innovation Center, and Erkam Tüzgen, CEO of Bilişim Vadisi, monitored team activities and met with participants.

At the conclusion, 19 teams presented their games to the jury. The teams “Untitle Game Studio,” “Neecro Projects,” and “Voyagers” ranked in the top three, while “Rital Interactive” received a special encouragement award from the jury. Investment meetings and mentorship support will continue for the winning teams, and all teams will continue to receive mentorship support from DIGIAGE.

Since 2023, over 500 applications have been received for the camps, with more than 300 participants qualifying to compete. More than 60 teams have participated in total, with many attracting investment and mentorship opportunities.

The camp has been implemented since 2023 within the framework of a cooperation protocol between the Innovation Center and Bilişim Vadisi Baku, aiming to develop technological skills, organize trainings, and support the implementation of innovative solutions in the country. Joint projects based on hackathon and bootcamp models are also a priority.

Sponsors: PASHA Holding
Partner: Code Academy
Media Partner: ASAN Radio & TV