Baku: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of the first phase of the 'SABAH.city' innovation campus, established at the High Technologies Park of the Ministry of Science and Education. According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev briefed the head of state on the project's details.
The 'SABAH.city' innovation campus spans a total area of 20 hectares, with the first phase covering over 5 hectares and featuring a built-up area of 20,000 square meters. Construction of the campus began in October of the previous year and now includes four interconnected buildings. Facilities on site include five restaurants, a market, an event hall, outdoor sports facilities such as basketball and football fields, two padel courts, outdoor recreation areas, pedestrian and bicycle lanes, and parking lots.
The campus is aimed at engaging more than 1,500 students from Baku State University, Azerbaijan Technical University, and Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University. These students, studying fields like engineering, information technology, and applied sciences, will participate in educational and practical activities. Once fully operational, the campus is expected to host approximately 3,000 visitors daily.
Additionally, the ASAN AI Hub was established within the campus. Ulvi Mehdiyev, Chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations, informed President Aliyev about various initiatives, including the 'INNOLAND' Incubation and Acceleration Center and the 'AI Assistant' project. The ASAN AI Hub aims to support innovative initiatives in artificial intelligence by bringing together researchers, government institutions, and the private sector on a single digital platform. To date, 50 artificial intelligence solutions have been presented, and collaborations have been established with eight national universities, the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, and several prestigious foreign universities.
The 'INNOLAND' Incubation and Acceleration Center has supported 150 startups, with four acquired by foreign investors. The 'AI Assistant' platform allows users to receive, analyze, and forecast information on various operational areas in a conversational format.
The 'SABAH.city' innovation campus also includes 13 training and research laboratories established by local universities. These facilities focus on priority scientific and technological fields, including artificial intelligence, robotics, computer science, cybersecurity, biotechnology, and telecommunications.
The campus features a coworking zone and shared workspace, housing 12 startups and 22 office spaces for local and international technology companies and research centers. In total, 23 key ecosystem participants, including technology companies and startups, have been involved in the first phase.
The primary goal of 'SABAH.city' is to create an environment that strengthens interaction among Azerbaijan's innovation, science, education, and high-technology ecosystem. By bringing these elements together, the project aims to transform knowledge and technology into economic and social value, contributing to the long-term competitiveness of Azerbaijan's innovation ecosystem.