“ASAN Service” at the “Take Off Istanbul 2025” Startup Summit

On December 10–11, 2025, a delegation from the Innovation Center of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan participated in the international “Take Off Istanbul 2025” startup summit held in Istanbul, Turkey.

At the event, where “ASAN Service” is a partner, Azerbaijan was represented with its national stand. The stand showcased the Innovation Center, ASAN AI Hub, resident startups of the INNOLAND Incubation and Acceleration Center, as well as promising local startups representing the innovation ecosystem, including Enverson AI, Convitsa, Polygraf AI, Speakday, IOMETE, Qmeter, Tryverse, and StarKidStories.

During the two-day summit, the Azerbaijan stand was visited by Selcuk Bayraktar, Technical Director of Baykar, İrem Bayraktar Aksakal, Director of the Take Off Girişim Summit, as well as investors and other key participants of the innovation ecosystem. The startups’ activities were closely reviewed, and potential collaboration opportunities were discussed.

On the second day of the event, Vusal Rustamov, Director of the Innovation Center, spoke at a panel discussion on “Regional Startup Ecosystem: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Turkey” held within the framework of “Take Off Istanbul 2025.”

This year, the “Take Off Istanbul” summit brought together more than 500 startups from 40 countries, over 250 investors, 75 stakeholders, and 11 sponsoring organizations.

The summit is organized within the framework of TEKNOFEST, initiated by the T3 Foundation, the Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Turkey, and the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidential Administration. It functions as one of the region’s largest innovation and startup platforms, creating a favorable and barrier-free environment for innovation by bringing together entrepreneurs, mentors, venture capital representatives, and companies.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the first lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the inauguration of the administrative building of E-Government Development Center under the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The head of state cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the administrative building.

The President`s Assistant for Work with Law Enforcement Bodies and Military Issues, department head Fuad Alasgarov and chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ASAN Service) Ulvi Mehdiyev informed President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva of the conditions created in the building.

The building will feature the INNOLAND Incubation and Acceleration Center as well as the IT Training and Education Center.

President Ilham Aliyev familiarized himself with the INNOLAND Incubation and Acceleration Center. INNOLAND is an incubation, acceleration and research center created to develop the private sector, promote innovation and expand the startup movement both in Azerbaijan and beyond its borders.

The IT Training and Education Center is a place where young people will be taught programming, information technologies, and coding skills.

President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva then viewed innovative projects here.

President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva were also informed of the new development concept of e-government.

Registration continues for the 5th TUSI within the “Skills for the Future” project

Registration is ongoing for the 5th TUSI implemented by the Innovation Center of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan within the “Skills for the Future” project.

The main objective of the program is to strengthen human capital in the field of innovation, promote innovative activities in education, and ensure the integration of students into the startup ecosystem.

Within the framework of the project, favorable conditions are created for the development of innovative ideas of young people, and guiding them toward invention and startup activities has been identified as a key priority. The program provides participants with extensive opportunities to systematically develop their ideas, build business models, conduct market research, develop products, and acquire effective presentation skills.

The 5th TUSI incubation program is implemented through an intensive training program covering 10 main topics and 34 sub-modules. The trainings are designed with a practical approach, enabling participants to work on real startup ideas and integrate more effectively into the innovation ecosystem.

Those who wish to participate in the program can fill out the application form at:
 https://gub.icenter.az/home

The registration deadline is April 12, 2026.

All students who have innovative ideas and want to transform them into real projects are invited to join the program.

Since 2021, the project has established cooperation with 18 higher education institutions. More than 130 mentors from universities have received training. Over 3,000 students have submitted more than 300 startup ideas. Among them, 45 startup teams were selected to present their projects to investors and experts during Demo Day events.

As a result of the project, 4 startups formed within the “Skills for the Future” initiative have attracted a total investment of 310,000 AZN. 🚀