IRIA presented "Ecosystem Map" and other projects that will stimulate the development of the ecosystem

"Baku ID" innovation festival was held in Baku on June 27-28, bringing together the players of Azerbaijan and the global ecosystem. Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IRIA) is the innovation partner of this year's event.
Thus, IRIA announced the start of "SAVAD Station", "Ecosystem Map" and AIM - Azerbaijan Innovation Center projects at this event. During the presentation of the projects, the head of the Investment and Ecosystem Support Department of the Agency Agahuseyn Ahmadov said that Azerbaijan's innovation strategy is based on basic principles such as human capital, infrastructure and innovative culture, financing and market demand. "Starting from this strategy, we have succeeded in uniting the players of the ecosystem, who previously operated in the field of innovation in our country, around a single and clear goal," said Agahuseyn Ahmadov.
Igor Ovcharenko, head of innovation of IRIA, participated in the panel discussion covering the topic of innovation development in the region. During his speech, he emphasized that strategic steps have been taken to make Azerbaijan a regional innovation hub in the near future: "IRIA has decided on the country's long-term innovation policy, taking into account the characteristics of Azerbaijan and the region, and this plays the role of the main factor determining the sustainable ecosystem construction. In our strategic vision, startups are at the center of the ecosystem, and the activities of our agency have created a solid foundation for the availability of financial resources for startups, incubation and acceleration programs, as well as the promotion of an innovative entrepreneurial culture," he said.
In Baku ID, along with other venture funds, with the participation of "Caucasus Ventures" supported by IRIA, a prize fund with a total amount of 1 million US dollars and intended for a start-up competition was created. Various start-ups had the opportunity to benefit from this investment award by presenting their presentations for two days.
It should be noted that more than 200 local and foreign investors, more than 100 startups and about 5000 participants participated in "Baku ID", which was held for the third time in our country. At the two-day event, speeches by representatives of government agencies and global technology companies, various panel discussions, startup presentations were held, and networking sessions were held for ecosystem players.