Winners of the “AI4DOST Social Award 2026” Competition Receive Their Awards

The award ceremony for the winners of the “AI4DOST Social Award 2026” competition was held as part of the “SOCGOV 2026: Digital Analytics for Smart Governance” International Forum in Khankendi.

The event began with a networking session and masterclasses on national heritage, designed to provide guests with an interactive cultural and innovative experience. A visual introduction showcasing the extensive reconstruction and development taking place across Garabagh, including Khankendi, was also presented.

At the opening of the event, Anar Aliyev, Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, presented a symbolic carpet created by SAIDA (Social Artificial Intelligence DOST Agency), an artificial intelligence solution developed by the DOST Agency, to Vedat Işıkhan, Türkiye’s Minister of Labor and Social Security.

The international and local experts serving on the “AI4DOST Social Award 2026” jury were invited to the stage. Certificates of Appreciation were presented to them in recognition of their contribution to the objective evaluation of submitted projects and the selection of finalists and winners.

Certificates were presented to the competition’s finalists. The competition aims to identify, recognize, and promote leading practices, innovative solutions, and initiatives with significant social impact on a broader scale.

The winners were then presented with their awards.

The competition featured four international categories — “AI-Powered Digital Solutions in the Social Sector,” “Social Volunteering and Civic Initiatives,” “Scientific Contribution to Social Sector Development,” and “Regional Social Initiative” — as well as three national individual awards: “Young Social Innovator of the Year,” “Leader/Initiator of Social Transformation,” and “Sustained Contribution to Social Sector Development.”

A total of 84 projects were submitted: 32 international projects from Ukraine, Greece, Uzbekistan, Russia, and other countries across the four categories, and 52 projects in the individual award categories.

Following the jury’s evaluation, 20 projects advanced to the final. Seven winners were selected, with one winner in each of the four international categories and three individual award categories:

* “Artificial Intelligence for Social Security: Digital Transformation of Greece’s National Insurance History” by Greece’s Electronic National Social Security Fund (e-EFKA), in the “AI-Powered Digital Solutions in the Social Sector” category.
* “Professional Social Work in ‘Inson’ Centers and at the Community Level” by Uzbekistan’s National Agency for Social Protection under the President, in the “Regional Social Initiative” category.
* “Supported Employment Model” by Azerbaijan’s “Birgə və Sağlam” Public Union, in the “Social Volunteering and Civic Initiatives” category.
* “Leadership Development Program for Young Civil Servants and Future Leaders” by Uzbekistan’s Institute for the Study of Youth Problems and Training of Prospective Personnel, in the “Scientific Contribution to Social Sector Development” category.
* “MinVolt,” an eponymous project by the Azerbaijani company of the same name, by Ayaz Alasgarov, in the “Young Social Innovator of the Year” individual category.
* “FakeDetectors — An AI-Powered Deepfake Detection Platform to Protect the Public from Disinformation,” developed with the support of ADA University and the “MegaSec” Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, by Abbas Aliyev, in the “Leader/Initiator of Social Transformation” individual category.
* “Parent School,” a project by Turab Ahmadov, Director of Simurq Lyceum, in the “Sustained Contribution to Social Sector Development” individual category.

A Certificate of Appreciation was also presented to the DOST Inclusive Development and Creativity Center in recognition of the fifth anniversary of its opening.

The award ceremony concluded with performances by the Center’s trainers and beneficiaries.