The winners of the inaugural "DataRace" competition, organized by the National Artificial Intelligence Center (NAIC)—a subsidiary of AZCON Holding—in partnership with "Apar," have been officially announced during an awards ceremony.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Ali Maharramli secured first place, receiving a prize of 3,000 manats. Elnur Mirzazade took second place with a 2,000 manat prize, and Nural Shukurlu finished third, winning 1,000 manats.
The "DataRace" platform was established to contribute to the implementation of the "Improvement of talents and skills in the field of artificial intelligence" directive, as outlined in the Artificial Intelligence Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2025–2028. The platform serves as a bridge, connecting AI and data science talent with real-world sector challenges to foster practical problem-solving skills.
Through the "DataRace" model, business and government entities present real-world challenges to AI and data experts. Participants develop various approaches to these problems, allowing the challenge owners to compare solutions and identify promising methodologies. The inaugural competition focused on "User Feedback Classification," a specific business need identified by "Apar." Participants developed AI-driven approaches for the automatic analysis and categorization of large volumes of user feedback. The competition attracted interest from 600 individuals, with over 300 participants submitting their proposed solutions.
The awards ceremony was attended by representatives from the public and private sectors, leaders in innovation, technology, ICT, and digital transformation, as well as human resources experts and AI specialists. Discussions at the event centered on connecting talent with the needs of the real sector and strengthening cooperation within the business, government, and technology ecosystems.
Looking ahead, the next stages of "DataRace" aim to announce new competitions based on real-world challenges across various sectors and to expand partnership opportunities. The platform remains committed to contributing to the development of practical skills among AI talent and fostering innovative approaches to solving real-sector problems in Azerbaijan.
