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The innovation economy research platform “StartupBlink” has released its Global Startup Ecosystem Index for 2025. Demonstrating consistent growth over the past four years, Azerbaijan has achieved its highest ranking to date. Compared to 2024, the country has advanced six positions, now ranking 74th globally. With an annual ecosystem growth rate of 24%, Azerbaijan leads the Central Asia region in terms of development pace.

Another notable achievement is Baku being named the “City of the Year” in the index. The capital stands out for its application of innovative technologies, particularly in e-commerce, retail, education, and social entertainment. Additionally, Baku ranks within the global top 100 in several categories, including Events (31st), Logistics (65th), Travel (71st), Online Marketplaces (91st), and SaaS (Software as a Service) solutions.

The report also includes an overview of Azerbaijan’s startup ecosystem. It highlights the role of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IRIA) as the leading government institution in promoting local innovation, advancing digital transformation, and driving ecosystem development. In recent years, Azerbaijan has made significant progress in building innovation infrastructure, developing technoparks, improving access to financial mechanisms for innovative projects, nurturing ICT human capital, and establishing international partnerships. The report also emphasizes the importance of initiatives launched by IRIA, such as the “IDDA Awards,” and its partnerships in organizing major events like “Baku ID” and the “INMerge Innovation Summit,” all of which have made meaningful contributions to the ecosystem.

For context, Azerbaijan ranked 89th in 2021, 85th in 2022, 84th in 2023, and 80th in 2024. This year’s index evaluated innovation indicators across 118 countries and 1,473 cities. The top five countries in the ranking are the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, Singapore, and Canada.