BAKU — September 1, 2025. The future of technology is being shaped in Baku, where the 49th World Final of the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) has brought together top students and leading experts from across the globe.
At the opening ceremony, Taleh Kazimov, chairman of Azerbaijan’s Central Bank, noted that representatives of more than 100 universities are competing in the capital.
“ICT is the space where new ideas are born and, more importantly, where the future of technology is formed,” Kazimov said. He stressed that areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital oversight will be decisive for humanity’s future and directly tied to financial stability.
Kazimov added a personal note, recalling his first programming job in 1999: “For me, hosting the ICPC in Azerbaijan is especially meaningful. I earned my first fee for writing software for a small warehouse.”
Building global IT talent
Samir Mammadov, Azerbaijan’s deputy minister of digital development and transport, said the country’s aim is to train specialists able to compete globally and lead ICT exports.
“We have launched programs that combine international experience with local ambitions, shaping a new generation of ICT leaders,” he said. Mammadov emphasized that Azerbaijan has declared digital transformation a national priority, supported by strategies for AI, cybersecurity, and digital development.
National debut in the world finals
For the first time, two Azerbaijani teams — from ADA University and the Baku Higher Oil School — are competing in the ICPC World Final.
“Our vision is to foster talent, strengthen advanced skills, and build a secure, competitive digital ecosystem,” Mammadov said. “Young people in Azerbaijan now have more opportunities than ever in programming, AI, and cybersecurity.”
The contest, often called the “Olympics of programming”, is the world’s oldest, largest, and most prestigious university-level coding competition.
