Challenges and innovative solutions in the transport sector were discussed at a workshop organized by the IDDA
The “Plug and Play × IDDA – Industry Challenge” innovation workshop was held with the joint organization of the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport (MDDT), the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA), and the international innovation company “Plug and Play”, with the participation of “Baku Metro” CJSC and “Azerbaijan Railways” CJSC, portfolio companies of AZCON Holding. The workshop brought together nearly 50 representatives of government institutions, major companies, startups, and international innovation players.
During the two-day workshop, participants discussed current challenges in the transport sector, explored the application of innovative technologies and startup solutions to address these challenges, and exchanged views on practical areas of action for potential future pilot projects. The workshop covered topics such as open innovation, artificial intelligence, the “Venture Client” model, implementation of pilot projects, and innovation portfolio management, while leading examples of international best practices were also presented.
In his speech, Farid Osmanov, Chairman of the Board of IDDA, emphasized the importance of the workshop, noting that innovative solutions create new opportunities to improve service quality and operational efficiency in the transport sector:
“This workshop serves as a bridge between the real challenges of the transport sector and modern technological capabilities. As IDDA, we support creating a favorable environment for the implementation of innovative solutions and expanding cooperation among government institutions, the private sector, startups, and international innovation partners. Our goal is to contribute to turning this cooperation into concrete pilot initiatives and practical outcomes.”
Fabiola Gulli, Director of Open Innovation at “Plug and Play”, shared international experience in corporate innovation, mechanisms for cooperation between large companies and startups, and models for testing new technological solutions. She highlighted the exceptional value of the workshop for Azerbaijan’s innovation ecosystem:
“During the sessions, we reviewed specific needs together with the participants, discussed approaches that have proven successful internationally, and identified potential solution areas. The openness of organizations in Azerbaijan to innovation and collaboration with startups creates significant potential for the implementation of new pilot projects.”
During the workshop, sessions with representatives of “Azerbaijan Railways” CJSC and “Baku Metro” CJSC focused on the organizations’ existing challenges and opportunities to apply advanced technologies to address them. As a result, priority innovation areas and potential pilot initiatives were identified.
It should be noted that the “Plug and Play × IDDA – Industry Challenge” workshop was implemented within the framework of the “Openwave Open Innovation” program in connection with the implementation of the Action Plan for 2026–2028 on Accelerating Digital Development in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The initiative aims to strengthen cooperation between the public sector, private sector, and startup ecosystem, promote the practical application of advanced technologies, and identify innovative solutions tailored to the challenges facing the transport sector.
