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The International Telecommunication Union’s new Regional Acceleration Center has been established within the strategic cooperation framework 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 (ITU), the United Nations’ specialized agency for digital technologies.

The opening ceremony of the Center was attended by Rəşad Nabiyev, Minister of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the ITU; Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau; as well as numerous representatives of local and international public and private organizations.

As the first of its kind in the CIS region, the ITU Acceleration Center has been established to bring together startups, businesses, government institutions, and academic organizations with the aim of strengthening innovative entrepreneurship, promoting collaboration within the ecosystem, and supporting the acceleration of digital transformation at the regional level.

The ITU Acceleration Center is part of a network of 17 innovation hubs dedicated to developing new, more resilient, and future-oriented approaches that enable secure and reliable advancement in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

This initiative has been launched as part of the ITU’s “Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development.” Through technological projects, the Alliance promotes economic inclusivity and sustainable development. ITU Acceleration Centers serve as a key platform for enhancing cooperation between the public and private sectors and transforming innovative potential into real-world opportunities.

The Center’s operations will further strengthen Azerbaijan’s rising position as a regional innovation leader by aligning the country’s national priorities with the ITU’s global mission. This strategic partnership will give strong momentum to the development of the innovation ecosystem across the region.

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

“At the Center, startups will be able to participate in acceleration programs designed in accordance with the methodology and standards of the International Telecommunication Union. This will expedite their access to global markets while fostering the development of innovation culture in our country through exposure to leading international practices.”

It should be noted that the Regional Acceleration Center will operate within the administrative building of the Azerbaijan Innovation Center. The facility includes event halls, meeting and presentation rooms, as well as dedicated spaces for training and coworking.