Lika Merabishvili, Regional Director for Caucasus, StrategEast

“Cooperation is essential. I have spent more than half of my life working within the education system, and it is clear that shared responsibility is needed — not only from universities, but also from the government and the business sector. As I mentioned, when we implemented a project here, it involved much more than education: it also included the employment process, with active participation from businesses. Financial institutions that funded the program also played a crucial role.”

Emilya Ahmadova, Head of the Innovation and Research Center at Baku Higher Oil School, SOCAR

“In bringing AI technologies into the industry, our success comes from placing innovation at the core of the School’s mission. We have developed strong internal cooperation between key departments — the Innovation Center, Career Center, and International Relations — which work closely together to engage with industry partners. This coordinated approach has proven essential, and I would be glad to share our experience in making these collaborations effective.”

Inara Valiyeva, Advisor to the Chairperson, Baku Metropolitan

“Many countries already have experience with government programs that subsidize or provide tax incentives to companies investing in human-capital development. Such support is essential, because HR leaders and CEOs constantly face the question of how much they should spend on upskilling. Given the rapid pace at which employees’ knowledge becomes outdated, continuous learning is critical. Governments should therefore motivate companies through incentives and targeted programs, ensuring that the workforce can update its skills quickly and remain competitive.”

Aziza Vidadi, Head of the Analysis and Monitoring Department, Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

“International research on digital transformation shows that while 97% of organizations pursuing digital transformation succeed only in implementing isolated use cases, just 3% achieve full transformation — including changes across their entire ecosystem. Many small, medium, and even large enterprises face significant financial and human-resource barriers when adopting AI. To overcome these challenges, approaches such as public–private partnerships can play a critical role in supporting companies on their AI adoption journey.”