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AI leaders from Azerbaijan visit to discuss partnership opportunities with UB

UB School of Management Dean Ananth Iyer (right) shakes hands with Tunjay Baghirov, managing director of Azerbaijan’s National Artificial Intelligence Center. Photo: Alexandra Richter

By UBNOW STAFF

Published August 20, 2026

Top artificial intelligence officials from the Republic of Azerbaijan visited UB on Aug. 14 to discuss educational partnerships and economic development opportunities.

The delegation was led by Tunjay Baghirov, managing director of Azerbaijan’s National Artificial Intelligence Center. The center leads the country’s AI agenda, including policy, standards, infrastructure, workforce development and applied deployment.

Additional members of the delegation included the center’s chief commercial officer, Ulfan Aliyev, and Elvin Huseynzade, executive assistant to the managing director.

The delegation toured UB’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. Photo: Douglas Levere

Over the course of the day, the team met with UB faculty and administrators to learn about UB’s longstanding leadership in AI research and education, including the university’s wide-ranging efforts to harness AI for the public good.

The delegation also discussed UB facilities focused on AI, including the supercomputing facility for Empire AI, which Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier this month announced is now the most powerful academic research computer in the country.

In addition to Empire AI and IAD, the delegation met with representatives from the School of Management, the Office of International Education, and the Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development, and a memorandum of understanding was signed with the goal of strengthening partnerships between UB and Azerbaijani universities through academic exchanges, talent development, business connections and applied AI research.

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