Baku ID 2025 Concludes: Baku Becomes the Regional Hub for Innovation
The festival was organized by SABAH.HUB Innovation Center with the support of the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan, SOCAR, PASHA Holding, and the Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR).
ADVERTISEMENT
Over the course of two days, Baku ID brought together dozens of speakers, investors, and startup representatives from around the world, becoming a central platform for the innovation ecosystem through parallel sessions, panel discussions, and presentations. The event featured more than 200 startups, 32 investors, 21 partners, and attracted over 4,000 guests. The program stood out for its focus on artificial intelligence, technology, and innovation.
The first day of the festival featured startup competitions and the University Demo Day, where students presented their innovative projects and competed for scholarships from ABB Tech Academy.
Throughout the festival, key representatives from SOCAR, the Innovation and Digital Development Agency, and the Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) shared their perspectives on corporate innovation, artificial intelligence, future workforce development, and building an innovation ecosystem.
Three significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were also signed at the event, aimed at boosting Azerbaijan's startup and innovation sectors. The first MoU, between ARDVENTURE, SABAH.HUB, and SABAH.fund, focuses on creating a 'Technology Ambassadors' network in major innovation hubs in the Turkic world to support startups' access to international markets.
The following two memorandums were signed by SABAH.angels with Galata Business Angels and Anbema Soft & Consulting. These collaborations are aimed at promoting international knowledge exchange in the fields of medical technologies, biotechnology, and innovative finance, as well as expanding access to promising global markets and attracting investments.
Notable speakers included Kwame Yamgnane, CEO of Qwasar Silicon Valley, Rafael Salazar, Founder of G8 Ventures and Sendity, Igor Burattini, Founder of MentalUp, Hasan Eminov, CEO of ABB Innovation and Niall McNulty, technology innovation researcher at the University of Cambridge. Their discussions highlighted the importance of developing innovation ecosystems, collaborating with startups, and embracing digital transformation.
In the startup showcase, local and international teams presented their products and ideas to investors, with many gaining entry into the group of promising startups for investment opportunities.
Baku ID also hosted the Startup World Cup, a global competition led by Pegasus Tech Ventures. SABAH.angels organized this event for the second time, with 'Clopos' emerging as the winner among eight finalists, earning the right to represent Azerbaijan in the Grand Finals in San Francisco. A total of 80 applications from six countries were received, with the selection process handled by an international jury.
The event's closing ceremony, Nexus Awards, was a highlight, recognizing the best startups across 14 categories, with more than 8,000 votes cast. A total of 15 awards were presented, and more than 30 startups and companies received well-deserved recognition.
Additionally, eight regional companies successfully completed fundraising rounds, securing over $4 million in investments from prominent funds.
Baku ID, leaving a lasting impression with its showcased innovative ideas, technological advancements, and signed strategic partnerships, has once again confirmed the region's strong potential for continued growth.
For more details, including the highlights, winners, and photo materials, visit the official website at www.bakuid.com, or follow Baku ID on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.
Also published on Medium.
Notice an issue? Arabian Post strives to deliver the most accurate and reliable information to its readers. If you believe you have identified an error or inconsistency in this article, please don't hesitate to contact our editorial team at editor[at]thearabianpost[dot]com. We are committed to promptly addressing any concerns and ensuring the highest level of journalistic integrity.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
10-07-2025
- Gulf Today
Sustaining global gas demand will require $4.3tr in investment by 2030
Total investments of $4.3 trillion are needed in the coming 5 years to keep up with fast-growing demand for natural gas and make up for a lost decade of underinvestment, Majid Jafar, CEO of Crescent Petroleum, the Middle East's oldest and largest private upstream oil and gas company, told ministers and energy industry leaders in Vienna. The world must invest more to maintain and grow the current energy systems particularly in the developing world where demand is growing fastest, Jafar said in his remarks on the opening day of the 9th OPEC International Seminar. 'The world faces a massive energy challenge, with demand set to grow at the fastest pace in decades,' Jafar said. 'The era of renewables growing at the expense of other energy sources is over—now, all forms of energy must expand together. We need an 'and, and' strategy: gas, oil, and renewables must all grow to meet surging global needs.' Jafar made his comments on a high-level roundtable session titled 'Policies and Regulations: A Just and Realistic Energy Future,' which discussed the need for sound and reliable energy policy with respect to sustainability. He was joined in the session by Tengku Muhammad Taufik the Chief Executive Officer of Petronas; Rovshan Najaf, President of SOCAR; and Francesco La Camera the Director-General of IRENA based in Abu Dhabi. The developing world is where most energy growth will come in the future, Jafar said, because it is where population growth, urbanisation and air condition will require the most new resources. More than 1.2 billion people in the developing world lack access to reliable electricity, a gap that has actually grown in recent years, he said. To meet that demand, the developing world must be enabled to develop its plentiful indigenous natural gas resources, replacing dirtier fuels and delivering cleaner, more reliable power, Jafar said. 'The 'energy trap' in developing countries leads to more coal burning, undermining both climate and development goals,' he said. Demand growth from AI data centres worldwide will further boost demand, requiring the equivalent of Japan's entire power demand by 2030. Data centres driven by AI will require an estimated $720 billion in global grid investment particularly in the West to support the surge in demand, he said. 'Reliable, affordable natural gas is a fundamental pillar for a just and equitable energy system which ensures technological progress, economic growth, and societal well-being,' he noted. Just by converting the world's coal power use to natural gas would reduce global emissions by 15%, making a far greater impact than the trillions invested renewables so far. The International Energy Agency estimates that global energy demand grew by 2.2% in 2024, well above average over the past decade, with electric power surging 4.3%, about a third higher than the average. This growth is driven by growing needs in developing countries as well as electrification and digitalisation from the AI revolution, which has grown energy demand in the Western world, after decline for years. In turn natural gas saw the strongest growth in demand among hydrocarbons, rising by 115 billion cubic metres (bcm), amounting to 2.7% in 2024, compared with an average 75 bcm annually over the past decade. The 9th OPEC International Seminar welcomed nearly 1,000 of the highest-level energy sector leaders, including ministers of OPEC member states, senior leaders from the oil and gas industry, policymakers, NGOs and invited guests. The two-day event, held at the historic Hofburg Palace in Vienna under the banner, 'Charting pathways together: the future of global energy' takes place on July 9 and 10. The themes focused on during the seminar included energy security, market stability, sustainability, investments and finance, low-carbon technologies, just energy transitions, energy poverty and diversification. Crescent Petroleum is the Middle East's first and largest private oil and gas company, with over fifty years of experience operating internationally. Headquartered in the UAE, Crescent Petroleum maintains operations and offices across the Middle East and beyond, and is the largest shareholder in Dana Gas, the region's leading private-sector natural gas company. Meanwhile the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will launch the 19th edition of its World Oil Outlook (WOO) during the 9th OPEC International Seminar in Vienna, Austria. The event been held in the Hofburg Palace yesterday (Thursday). Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary General of OPEC, will deliver opening remarks, followed by a panel session with management and analysts from the OPEC Secretariat's Research Division, which will discuss the publication's key findings. First published in 2007, the WOO, one of the OPEC's flagship publications, provides an in-depth review and analysis of the global oil and energy industries and offers assessments of various scenarios in their medium- and long-term development.
Arabian Post
09-07-2025
- Arabian Post
Baku ID 2025 Concludes: Baku Becomes the Regional Hub for Innovation
On June 19–20, Baku successfully hosted the Baku ID 2025 Innovation Festival. This year's theme, The Regional Nexus, brought together leading entrepreneurs and technology leaders from the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, positioning Azerbaijan as the region's innovation hub. The festival was organized by Innovation Center with the support of the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan, SOCAR, PASHA Holding, and the Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR). ADVERTISEMENT Over the course of two days, Baku ID brought together dozens of speakers, investors, and startup representatives from around the world, becoming a central platform for the innovation ecosystem through parallel sessions, panel discussions, and presentations. The event featured more than 200 startups, 32 investors, 21 partners, and attracted over 4,000 guests. The program stood out for its focus on artificial intelligence, technology, and innovation. The first day of the festival featured startup competitions and the University Demo Day, where students presented their innovative projects and competed for scholarships from ABB Tech Academy. Throughout the festival, key representatives from SOCAR, the Innovation and Digital Development Agency, and the Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) shared their perspectives on corporate innovation, artificial intelligence, future workforce development, and building an innovation ecosystem. Three significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were also signed at the event, aimed at boosting Azerbaijan's startup and innovation sectors. The first MoU, between ARDVENTURE, and focuses on creating a 'Technology Ambassadors' network in major innovation hubs in the Turkic world to support startups' access to international markets. The following two memorandums were signed by with Galata Business Angels and Anbema Soft & Consulting. These collaborations are aimed at promoting international knowledge exchange in the fields of medical technologies, biotechnology, and innovative finance, as well as expanding access to promising global markets and attracting investments. Notable speakers included Kwame Yamgnane, CEO of Qwasar Silicon Valley, Rafael Salazar, Founder of G8 Ventures and Sendity, Igor Burattini, Founder of MentalUp, Hasan Eminov, CEO of ABB Innovation and Niall McNulty, technology innovation researcher at the University of Cambridge. Their discussions highlighted the importance of developing innovation ecosystems, collaborating with startups, and embracing digital transformation. In the startup showcase, local and international teams presented their products and ideas to investors, with many gaining entry into the group of promising startups for investment opportunities. Baku ID also hosted the Startup World Cup, a global competition led by Pegasus Tech Ventures. organized this event for the second time, with 'Clopos' emerging as the winner among eight finalists, earning the right to represent Azerbaijan in the Grand Finals in San Francisco. A total of 80 applications from six countries were received, with the selection process handled by an international jury. The event's closing ceremony, Nexus Awards, was a highlight, recognizing the best startups across 14 categories, with more than 8,000 votes cast. A total of 15 awards were presented, and more than 30 startups and companies received well-deserved recognition. Additionally, eight regional companies successfully completed fundraising rounds, securing over $4 million in investments from prominent funds. Baku ID, leaving a lasting impression with its showcased innovative ideas, technological advancements, and signed strategic partnerships, has once again confirmed the region's strong potential for continued growth. For more details, including the highlights, winners, and photo materials, visit the official website at or follow Baku ID on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook. Also published on Medium. Notice an issue? Arabian Post strives to deliver the most accurate and reliable information to its readers. If you believe you have identified an error or inconsistency in this article, please don't hesitate to contact our editorial team at editor[at]thearabianpost[dot]com. We are committed to promptly addressing any concerns and ensuring the highest level of journalistic integrity.
Khaleej Times
04-07-2025
- Khaleej Times
Baku ID 2025 concludes with city positioned as the regional hub for innovation
Baku successfully hosted the Baku ID 2025 Innovation Festival on June 19–20. This year's theme, The Regional Nexus, brought together leading entrepreneurs and technology leaders from the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, positioning Azerbaijan as the region's innovation hub. Over the course of two days, Baku ID brought together dozens of speakers, investors, and startup representatives from around the world, becoming a central platform for the innovation ecosystem through parallel sessions, panel discussions, and presentations. The event featured more than 200 startups, 32 investors, 21 partners, and attracted over 4,000 guests. The programme stood out for its focus on artificial intelligence, technology, and innovation. The first day of the festival featured startup competitions and the University Demo Day, where students presented their innovative projects and competed for scholarships from ABB Tech Academy. Throughout the festival, key representatives from SOCAR, the Innovation and Digital Development Agency, and the Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) shared their perspectives on corporate innovation, artificial intelligence, future workforce development, and building an innovation ecosystem. Three significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were also signed at the event, aimed at boosting Azerbaijan's startup and innovation sectors. The first MoU took place between ARDVENTURE, and focusing on creating a 'Technology Ambassadors' network in major innovation hubs in the Turkic world to support startups' access to international markets. The following two memorandums were signed by with Galata Business Angels and Anbema Soft & Consulting. These collaborations are aimed at promoting international knowledge exchange in the fields of medical technologies, biotechnology, and innovative finance, as well as expanding access to promising global markets and attracting investments. Notable speakers included Kwame Yamgnane, CEO of Qwasar Silicon Valley; Rafael Salazar, founder of G8 Ventures and Sendity; Igor Burattini, founder of MentalUp; Hasan Eminov, CEO of ABB Innovation; and Niall McNulty, technology innovation researcher at the University of Cambridge. Their discussions highlighted the importance of developing innovation ecosystems, collaborating with startups, and embracing digital transformation. In the startup showcase, local and international teams presented their products and ideas to investors, with many gaining entries into the group of promising startups for investment opportunities. The festival was organised by Innovation Center with the support of the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan, SOCAR, PASHA Holding, and the Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR). Baku ID also hosted the Startup World Cup, a global competition led by Pegasus Tech Ventures. organised this event for the second time, with 'Clopos' emerging as the winner among eight finalists, earning the right to represent Azerbaijan in the Grand Finals in San Francisco. A total of 80 applications from six countries were received, with the selection process handled by an international jury. The event's closing ceremony, Nexus Awards, was a highlight, recognising the best startups across 14 categories, with more than 8,000 votes cast. A total of 15 awards were presented, and more than 30 startups and companies received well-deserved recognition. Additionally, eight regional companies successfully completed fundraising rounds, securing over $4 million in investments from prominent funds. Baku ID, leaving a lasting impression with its showcased innovative ideas, technological advancements, and signed strategic partnerships, has once again confirmed the region's strong potential for continued growth.
