ITU Regional Acceleration Centre Launches Operations in Azerbaijan

The Regional Acceleration Centre has officially commenced operations in Azerbaijan, having been established within the framework of strategic cooperation between the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the International Telecommunication Union.

This marks the first ITU Acceleration Centre to be launched in the CIS region. Its primary objective is to bring together startups, businesses, government institutions, and educational organizations to strengthen innovative entrepreneurship, promote collaboration across the ecosystem, and support the acceleration of digital transformation at the regional level.

Currently, ITU Acceleration Centres operate in 16 countries across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, including Azerbaijan. These centres are established under ITU’s “Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development” initiative, which aims to enhance regional cooperation and foster the development of innovation ecosystems in member countries. Through this initiative, the Alliance works to advance economic inclusion and sustainable development by supporting technology-driven projects. The Acceleration Centres, in turn, serve as effective platforms to strengthen cooperation between public and private sector stakeholders and transform innovation potential into practical outcomes.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the newly established Centre, Chairman of IDDA Farid Osmanov noted that the new platform will serve as a hub for startups and innovative projects from Azerbaijan and other countries in the region:

“In this Centre, startups will be able to participate in acceleration programmes developed in accordance with the methodologies and standards of the International Telecommunication Union. This will accelerate their entry into global markets while contributing to the growth of an innovation-driven culture in our country through exposure to international best practices.”

The Regional Acceleration Center will operate within the administrative building of the Azerbaijan Innovation Center (AIM). The facility includes event halls, rooms for meetings and presentations, as well as dedicated training and coworking spaces.

Resources:

Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) – https://idda.az/en

IDDA Newsroom – https://idda.az/en/news

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – https://www.itu.int

ITU Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development – https://www.itu.int/itu-d/innovation

Azerbaijan Innovation Center (AIM) – https://aim.gov.az

About ITU Acceleration Centres – https://www.itu.int/itu-d/acceleration-centres

Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan – https://mincom.gov.az/en.