Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 14
By Huseyn Valiyev – Trend:
Innovational startup support center was created under the ADA University, coordinator of the center Rashad Aliyev told Trend.
The center supports students in realization of their ideas and business formation, he said.
”The support can be given in different ways. For example, we will organize a business-training for students this week. Programming lessons will be given in the future. Establishment of the innovations center was the initiative of students, who are full of enthusiasm to work with projects from scratch till the presentation of a finished product. We gave a special lesson on mobile programming last year. At the end of the semester 15 teams were formed. They submitted 15 different software prototypes,” Aliyev said.
That formed basis for the decision to organize regular training for students and support them financially.
“We organized a contest of ideas with a prize fund of 5,000 manats. 20 teams participated in it. The winner, the runner-up and the third place were awarded 2,500, 1,500 and 1,000 manats, respectively. Such contests will be held annually,” Aliyev said.
According to him, the administration of ADA allotted an area with necessary equipment for the needs of the innovations center. Five teams are currently working there.
“It is quite possible that the center will cooperate with local IT companies in the future, because they have required basis for the development of the ecosystem and know the market demand. Such local organizations as the State Fund for Development of Information Technologies, Barama innovation and entrepreneurship center, SUP.az startup accelerator, Next Step innovation center, Baku Business Factory and others play important role in supporting innovational projects. All of them help us when necessary,” Aliyev said.
According to him, other universities of the country will be able to profit from the experience of ADA as soon as the work of the center is fully established.
“We will share our experience with other universities and try to support not only university, but also high school students in development of their ideas. We believe that our achievements can be useful not only for students of ADA, but for all young people of the country,” Aliyev concluded.
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