The “Falling Walls Lab” international competition was organized at AzTU by the joint organization of Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The event was realized with the joint support of DAAD teacher Claudio Kasperl working at AzTU and university employees. The main goal of the project, which is held in more than 60 countries of the world, is to promote exceptional creative ideas and unite promising young scientists and students from all fields of science on an international platform.

Speaking at the opening of the ceremony, AzTU Rector Vilayat Valiyev welcomed the participants and informed about the importance of the competition. He noted that such international competitions are opportunities for Azerbaijani researchers to reveal all their creative potential. The Rector expressed his gratitude to the representatives of the German Embassy in Azerbaijan and DAAD for their support in the implementation of the project.

It should be noted that this year, about 150 applications were received for the competition. An online presentation training aimed at developing presentation skills was organized for the participants whose candidacy was approved. 18 project authors, consisting of young researchers from AzTU, Azerbaijan State University of Economics, Baku Higher Oil School, Baku Engineering University, Baku State University, Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, Police Academy, Azerbaijan Medical University, and Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, qualified for the final stage and presented their ideas in three minutes at the competition held at AzTU.

The projects were evaluated by a jury representing higher education institutions, research institutes, and the industrial sector of Azerbaijan. The evaluation was conducted based on criteria such as the originality, innovation, and usefulness of the project idea to the field, the relevance of the project idea and its impact on the target audience, and the level of presentation of the project.

Aytac Suleymanzade, a researcher representing Baku Higher Oil School, was selected as the winner of the competition in Azerbaijan with his project “Breaking Walls of Volatile Batteries”. The project involves the development of a new generation of high-performance electrolytes that will increase the efficiency, service life, and safety of batteries. The winning participant will represent Azerbaijan with their project in the final round to be held in Berlin in November 2026.