The final stage of the “From Idea to Project” competition, dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Faculty of Special Equipment and Technology at the Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU), has been successfully held.

The primary objective of the competition was to support students’ innovative ideas, enhance their project development and presentation skills, and strengthen cooperation between academia and industry.

Prior to the final presentations, an exhibition showcasing innovative solutions and projects developed within the framework of the competition was organized. The exhibition was attended by AzTU Rector Professor Vilayat Valiyev, Advisors to the Minister of Defence Industry Arif Babayev and Osman Okur, representatives of the Ministry of Defence Industry, representatives of various defence industry enterprises and companies, as well as members of the university’s academic staff and students.

Following the exhibition, the final stage of the competition commenced with the screening of a video highlighting all phases of the competition.

In his opening remarks, AzTU Rector Professor Vilayat Valiyev noted that a series of scientific, educational, and innovation-oriented events have been organized throughout the year as part of the Faculty’s 15th anniversary celebrations. He emphasized that the preparation of highly qualified specialists for the defence industry remains one of the university’s strategic priorities. The Rector underlined the importance of such competitions in fostering students’ creativity and innovative thinking and stressed the need to ensure the further development and sustainability of the projects presented.

Speaking at the event, Advisor to the Minister of Defence Industry Arif Babayev highlighted the significant role of initiatives such as the “From Idea to Project” competition in encouraging young people to engage in innovation activities. He emphasized the relevance and practical value of the projects presented and noted that over the past 15 years, the Faculty of Special Equipment and Technology has trained numerous highly qualified specialists for the country’s defence industry. He also particularly acknowledged the Faculty’s achievements in education, scientific research, and industry collaboration in recent years.

A total of 18 teams and more than 60 students participated in the competition. The participants developed their projects with the support of over 20 mentors.

Throughout the competition, participants attended 12 training sessions covering innovation, entrepreneurship, the startup ecosystem, project commercialization, technical design, presentation skills, and other relevant areas. These trainings were aimed at enhancing both the participants’ technical competencies and their soft skills, including leadership, teamwork, and effective communication.

Eight teams advanced to the final stage and presented their projects before a panel of judges. The projects were evaluated based on innovation, technical feasibility, application potential, economic efficiency, and future development prospects.

According to the final evaluation results, Team Eltey was awarded first place, Team X secured second place, and Team ApexMinds achieved third place.

The winning teams were presented with diplomas and awards in recognition of their outstanding achievements.

In addition, the members of the jury who participated in the final stage of the competition, as well as the mentors who provided training sessions and continuous guidance to the participants throughout the competition, were awarded certificates of appreciation for their valuable contributions.