Azerbaijan's AI centre trains over 180 executives with University at Buffalo in Baku
NAIC and the University at Buffalo's School of Management ran a two-day artificial intelligence training for more than 180 executives and specialists in Baku on 31 October–1 November 2026, APA reported.
Azerbaijan's National Artificial Intelligence Center (NAIC, Süni İntellekt üzrə Milli Mərkəz), one of the companies of AZCON Holding, and the School of Management at the State University of New York at Buffalo ran a two-day international practical training programme in Baku on 31 October–1 November 2026, APA reported on 2 November 2026. More than 180 executives and specialists took part, according to APA.
What the programme covered
- Participants came from banks, government agencies, private companies, holdings and state-owned enterprises, APA said.
- An academic delegation led by Ananth Iyer, Dean and Professor at the School of Management of the State University of New York at Buffalo, ran sessions built on real business cases, interactive exercises and practical assignments, according to APA.
- Training focused on the practical use of artificial intelligence in finance and accounting, supply chain management and business analytics, with an emphasis on operational efficiency, process optimisation and data-driven decision-making, APA reported.
- The programme was implemented as part of Azerbaijan's Artificial Intelligence Strategy for 2025–2028, approved by presidential decree dated 19 March 2025, APA said.
- Tuncay Baghirov, Director General of NAIC, said the work was meant to "effectively integrate these technologies into management and decision-making processes," according to APA.
Why it matters
The session put bank, government and state-enterprise staff through one programme rather than separate sector tracks, according to APA's description of the participants. For Azerbaijani institutions, that matters because a cohort of more than 180 spanning finance, government and holdings gives banks and state enterprises a concrete reference point for how AI adoption is expected to move from strategy documents into day-to-day management and reporting practice. Companies in the finance and accounting sector that sent staff should treat the session as a baseline, not a certification — APA's report describes practical exercises, not a credentialing scheme.
