On February 8, the first youth-led International Aerospace and Digital Innovations Forum (IAEDIF’25) was held at the Space Academy of Azercosmos. AZERTAC reports that the National Anthem of Azerbaijan was played at the beginning of the event. High school and university students participated in the forum, organized by the Youth Aviators Society, led by Yusuf Karimli, with the support of the State Space Agency of Azerbaijan (Azercosmos), NARGIS Fund, the British Embassy in Azerbaijan, and the “Ushaqlarimiza Oyredek” Youth Society.
Speaking at the event, Yusuf Karimli, chairman and founder of “Ushaqlarimiza Oyredek” and the Youth Aviators Society, stated that the main purpose of the forum was to create a platform for young people to freely express their views on various topics, mainly STEM, aerospace, and sustainability, as well as to showcase their innovative projects and creative ideas.
"At the event, a dynamic environment was created for young people and high-level experts to discuss global issues in panel sessions and receive valuable advice from professionals with extensive experience in their fields. One of the main goals of the forum is to facilitate the exchange of ideas and build a bridge between large companies and young people," Karimli added.
Later, Vice President of “Ushaqlarimiza Oyredek” Sabina Abishova, provided information about the organization’s activities supporting underprivileged children, as well as over 25 large- and small-scale initiatives aimed at youth development, implemented with the support of more than 20 partners. Following this, a video showcasing the Youth Society’s activities was presented.
Imran Mukhtarov, Head of the Space Academy of Azercosmos, informed participants about the institution’s activities and the Space Academy’s role. "I want to congratulate you on this commendable initiative. I am sure that such events will play an important role in expanding young people's knowledge of space and increasing their interest," said Mukhtarov. He then delivered a presentation on the activities of Azercosmos.
The panel sessions began with the first discussion, moderated by Yusuf Karimli, on "Sustainable Digital Development by 2030," featuring speakers from AzerTelecom, the United Nations, IDDA, and leading telecommunication and FinTech companies.
The second panel, moderated by Vusal Baghirli, focused on "Green Development of Cybersecurity and AI by 2030," with speakers from Türkiye Teknoloji Vakfı, Sabah.hub, NASA Space Apps Baku 2024 winners, and others.
The third panel was led entirely by youth participants, including high school students Yusif Mammadov, Vusal Baghirli, Sabina Abishova, Omar Eyvazli, Alisa Khojayeva, and Aghajabrail Jafarzade.
The fourth panel, moderated by Minseo Kang, discussed "Sustainable Development of Aeronautics and Astronautics," featuring young speaker Yusuf Karimli and representatives from The International School of Azerbaijan, Azercosmos, and the International Telecommunication Union.
The fifth panel, moderated by Sabina Abishova, addressed "Quality Education on Digital Innovations and Aerospace," with speakers from the British Council, the Prosecutor’s Office, ERP Systems, TISA, the European Azerbaijan School, and COP29.
At the end of the event, the Youth Aviators Society connected with Prof. Huseyn Mirzayev, Dean of the Engineering Faculty at Garabagh University, for an online keynote address. This marked the first-ever speech by a faculty member of Garabagh University at an international youth-led forum.
The Youth Aviators Society and Yusuf Karimli emphasized that IAEDIF is planned to be held again next year. They look forward to engaging more youth and participating in international events and congresses such as the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) and COP30.
