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Winners of the National Tour of the Imagine Cup 2018 innovation competition, which was launched in Baku in February with the support of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Copyright Agency, Microsoft Azerbaijan, PASHA Bank and the mobile operator “Nar”, were announced on May 15.

Addressing the event, Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies Ramin Guluzade said that startup projects are a priority in building an innovative economy. Deputy Minister of Education Firudin Gurbanov stressed that participation of students in an influential competition as Imagine Cup is the beginning of their successful career.  

Other supporters of the project also described Microsoft Imagine Cup as a competition stimulating the further development and career growth of young people and opening up new prospects in the innovations sphere. They touched upon the importance of business incubators created in universities.

Later, Smart Flower Pot, GuideAmigo and KubiRub projects of the “eazi START” Startup and Innovation Center of Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU) were presented at the competition. Projects of ASOIU students were highly evaluated by the jury and were selected winners of the National Tour of the Imagine Cup 2018 innovation competition.  

The first place of the National Tour of the Imagine Cup 2018 was taken by KubiRub. The second and third places were given to GuideAmigo and Smart Flower Pot.

ASOIU Rector, Professor Mustafa Babanli expressed his gratitude for the support to students’ innovative ideas, stressing that the university’s “eazi START” Startup and Innovation Center has many other projects. Rector Babanli said they are planning to teach a special discipline in Master’s degree to expand further the Startup school and engage more students.

Notably, first and second place holders - ASOIU teams will take part in the CIS Regional Finals to be held on May 19 in Minsk.