Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU), in collaboration with the Türkiye-Azerbaijan University and Pakistan’s National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), successfully hosted the international event titled “Strategic Talks on Innovation & Commercialization for Knowledge Sharing” (STICKS International 2025).

This year, for the first time, the event was hosted outside Pakistan – in Azerbaijan.

The event aimed to foster university-industry collaboration, support the commercialization of scientific research, promote startup development, and strengthen international partnerships.

At the opening session, Rector of AzTU Vilayat Valiyev and NUST Pro-Rector for Research, Innovation and Commercialization Rizwan Riaz addressed the participants, highlighting the importance and goals of the event.

The forum featured two main panel discussions:

The first panel, titled “Bridging Academia and Industry Across Borders – Perspectives from Pakistan, Türkiye, and Azerbaijan,” focused on cooperation opportunities between universities and industry, the establishment of joint research projects, and the development of innovation ecosystems.

The second panel, “Turning Research into Global Impact – Strategies for Cross-Border Commercialization,” explored the commercial potential of scientific outcomes, technology transfer, investment environments, and regional collaboration prospects.

STICKS International 2025 was highly appreciated by the participants, who expressed confidence that the event would pave the way for broader scientific collaboration in the future.

At the conclusion of the event, AzTU Rector Vilayat Valiyev, TAU Vice-Rector Mehmet Şimşir, and NUST Pro-Rector Rizwan Riaz symbolically pressed a “start” button on stage, launching the “Pakistan–Azerbaijan–Türkiye Innovation Corridor” initiative.