The research group of the AP26198511 grant-funded project of the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan “Integration potential of the creative industries of the Central Asian region: development of assessment methodology and implementation mechanisms” visited Azerbaijan as part of an academic research visit

From May 19 to 26, 2026, the research group of Turan University visited the cities of Baku and Khirdalan (Republic of Azerbaijan) within the framework of the implementation of Project AP26198511 “Integration Potential of the Creative Industries of the Central Asian Region: Development of Assessment Methodology and Implementation Mechanisms.” The purpose of the business trip was to present and test the research findings at the X International Scientific Conference of Young Researchers, as well as to expand and enrich the research base through the exchange of experience with representatives of the Azerbaijani expert community.

The research group included Serik Nurymovich Sansyzbayev — Chief Researcher, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor at the Higher School of Economics and Management of Turan University; Aigul Maratkyzy — Senior Researcher and Director of Creative Kazakhstan Agency; as well as Makhamatali Umutzhanovich Yalkunov — Junior Researcher and a third-year doctoral student of the “Economics” educational program at Turan University.

As part of the scientific business trip, the project representatives participated in the thirteenth World Urban Forum (WUF13), organized under the auspices of UN-Habitat. The forum paid particular attention to issues of sustainable urbanization, the development of inclusive urban governance mechanisms, and the role of culture and the creative economy in the development of modern urban ecosystems.

The research group also participated in a specialized panel session of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), jointly organized by the UCCN Secretariat and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan within the framework of the ONE UN initiative. The session focused on the integration of culture and creativity into urban development policies, housing construction, and the regeneration of urbanized territories. Discussions addressed challenges related to the transformation of urban spaces and the development of creative communities.

The speakers included Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan Saadat Yusifova, Head of the Azerbaijan Cinema Agency Rashad Azizov, Deputy Mayor of Bukhara Sharofiddin Khusenov, UN-Habitat expert Jose Chong, architect and urban planner Ana Luiza Ottersbach, and Professor of the Sarajevo Film Academy Mia Avdagic.

Within the framework of the forum, the research group conducted professional consultations and expert meetings with representatives of the cultural and creative sector of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Of particular importance was the meeting with Rashad Azizov, who presented information on the current state of Azerbaijan’s creative industries ecosystem, state support mechanisms, and strategic directions for sector development.

A working meeting was also held with the management of the YARADICI Center for the Development of Cultural and Creative Industries of Azerbaijan, operating under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The meeting was attended by the Center’s Director Rashad Saparov, curator Vugar Aliyev, and the Director of the GameDev company GamePons, Vusal Karimli.

On May 21, 2026, the project team participated in the VIII International Scientific Conference of Researchers in Economics and Management (ISCEMR), held at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku. The conference was organized by the Azerbaijan State University of Economics. The conference theme was “Artificial Intelligence and Strategic Decisions of Small States.” Plenary and thematic sessions addressed issues of economic digitalization, the application of AI technologies in public administration, labor market transformation, innovation policy, and sustainable development.

On May 22–23, 2026, the project representatives participated in the X International Scientific Conference of Young Researchers dedicated to the 103rd anniversary of the birth of the national leader of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev. The conference was organized by Baku Engineering University and aimed at creating an international academic platform for young researchers from various countries around the world.

During the official opening ceremony, Professor Serik Nurymovich Sansyzbayev delivered a welcoming speech on behalf of the scientific community of the Republic of Kazakhstan, emphasizing the importance of international academic interaction and the expansion of cooperation between universities of Central Asia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Within the framework of the conference scientific program, the project’s young researcher Makhamatali Umutzhanovich Yalkunov delivered a scientific presentation entitled “Creative ecosystems as drivers of sustainable socio-economic transformation: the case of Kazakhstan.” Following the presentation, the researcher received a certificate of participation in the international conference. Participation in the event made it possible to test intermediate research results, receive expert feedback, and expand international academic and scientific-professional contacts.

During the conference, working meetings were held with representatives of Baku Engineering University, Hamzaga Orujov Davud and Agasi Malikov Zarbali. As a result of the negotiations, the research group received an official invitation to participate in the International Conference on Management and Control in Solving Engineering Problems, scheduled for April 2027.

The scientific business trip contributed to the implementation of the objectives of Project AP26198511 “Integration Potential of the Creative Industries of the Central Asian Region: Development of Assessment Methodology and Implementation Mechanisms.” The materials obtained during the conference, the results of professional discussions, expert recommendations, and the established academic contacts will be used in further research aimed at studying integration processes and the development potential of the creative industries of Central Asia.