Academic and Innovation Mentoring Projects initiative launched in US

The Academic and Innovation Mentoring Projects (AIM Projects) initiative has been launched in San Francisco, California, Report informs.

A meeting was held at the Mind the Bridge Innovation Center to launch the initiative and present the project's website. The meeting was attended by Azerbaijani scientists, researchers, doctoral students, specialists working at Silicon Valley tech companies, and students studying at Stanford and Berkeley universities.

The goal of AIM Projects is to coordinate efforts between Azerbaijani scientists working in science and innovation in the United States and relevant partners, scientists, specialists, and other stakeholders operating in Azerbaijan, as well as to provide access to a platform offering mentoring programs.

At the event, Aykhan Yusifov, the initiative's director and professor at Niagara University, spoke about the initiative's concept and goals. The initiative's executive secretary, Shahla Shirinli, then presented the website and provided information about the proposed mentoring programs, the approximately 20 individuals already registered as volunteer mentors, and the workshops to be organized over the next two months.

Gratitude was expressed to the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles for its support in implementing the initiative and organizing the meeting. Consul General Vugar Gurbanov wished the initiators success and congratulated the guests on the occasion of September 20 – State Sovereignty Day.

Gaya Mammadov, a member of the Milli Majlis and a member of the Azerbaijan-US working group on interparliamentary relations, who was also present at the meeting, extended his congratulations on the launch of the project, noted the importance of the event, and offered his recommendations.

The AIM Projects initiative was established as a logical continuation of the Academia and Innovation Forum held on June 26-27, 2025, at the University of California, Berkeley.