The InMerge Innovation Summit 2023, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, marked a significant milestone in the country’s technological advancement and innovation journey. This prestigious event, spanning from November 30 to December 1, 2023, brought together a diverse array of industry leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs, creating a vibrant platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and collaboration.
The summit featured an impressive lineup of keynote speakers and panelists, including Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple; Mikayil Jabbarov, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Çağlayan Çetin, President of Trendyol Group; Rashad Nabiyev, Minister Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Barton, founder of Shazam; JB Straubel, co-founder of Tesla Inc; Gea Smith, Director of Google; Klaus Mueller, CEO of Bakcell and many others leading experts. These industry giants shared their insights and experiences, inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs and innovators.
A highlight of the event was the participation of Jana Krimpe, CEO & Founder of B.EST Solutions and Founder & Chair of “Femmes Digitales” – “Supporting Women in TECH” Public Union. Mrs. Krimpe, recognized as a TOP100 Influencer in Digital Identity worldwide, brought a unique perspective to the summit, focusing on the empowerment of women in the technology sector. Mrs. Krimpe participated in the panel “Women Shaping the Future of Innovation” along with the industry leaders like Ayumi Moore Aoki, Founder and CEO Women in Tech Global; Julia Lee, Harvard Professor and NASA Fellow at MIT; Kristel Kruustuk, Founder and Board Director at Testlio, Women Entrepreneurship Ambassador; Zarina Zeynalova, CEO at Azercell Telecom; and Nika Nakazawa, Sustainable Innovation at Next Gen Compute – AI, Edge, IoT, P5G, Board Director.
The panel discussion provided valuable insights into the integral role of women in technology and innovation. Addressing key challenges, the conversation focused on crucial topics such as Diversity and Inclusion in Leadership and the impactful role of Women as Change-Makers. The panelists shared real stories from their journeys, highlighting the significance of women’s hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic in both professional and domestic spheres, showcasing the power of storytelling in inspiring others and fostering a sense of connection. Additionally, practical life hacks for achieving work-life balance were generously provided, recognizing the unique challenges professionals face in demanding industries.
Drawing from her experience, the Chair emphasized the importance of supporting women in the tech field. Jana started her speech by specifying the situation that upon arriving in Azerbaijan 15 years ago from Estonia, she found herself surrounded by men in all meetings and conferences. Determined to make a change, Mrs. Krimpe set a goal for at least half of the auditorium to be filled by women in Tech. Explaining the motive behind forming the TECH Community, she shared, “We found absolutely amazing, smart, inspiring ladies from different industries. Nine years ago, we created ‘Femmes Digitales’ to showcase the abundance of brilliant women in TECH in Azerbaijan.” Mrs. Krimpe also mentioned that nowadays there are more than 200 members of the Union, and the “Femmes Digitales” community is one of the biggest in the country. The Public Union has been helping thousands of women and girls, especially from rural areas, to realize their ambitions, achieve their potential and gain the recognition they deserve, to inspire girls to fulfill their dreams with technology.
The summit addressed the technological gap between urban and rural areas in Azerbaijan, with Mrs. Krimpe emphasizing the organization’s efforts in organizing regional events. These events introduced over 1000 girls to IT and programming fundamentals, contributing significantly to increasing the number of girls pursuing STEM education.
InMerge Innovation Summit 2023 served as a platform for showcasing global technological advancements and highlighted the local innovation ecosystem’s potential. The event’s success lies in its ability to merge international expertise with local talent, fostering a collaborative environment that promises to propel Azerbaijan’s position in the global technology arena.