A scientific-practical forum titled "Current Issues of University-Industry Cooperation in the Context of AI, Smart Economy and Digital Transformation" was held on May 14, 2026, organized by the Department of Economics and Management at Khazar University. The forum was organized for the purpose of presenting and discussing research by various scholars in current scientific fields such as smart economy, smart logistics, smart tourism, university-industry cooperation, and related areas.

The event opened with welcoming remarks by Dr. Khanim Omeroglu, Deputy Dean of the School of Economics and Management. Dr. Khanim Omeroglu began by greeting the keynote speakers, experts, academic staff of the department, and students in attendance, expressing gratitude for their participation in the forum. Addressing the relevance of the forum, which is dedicated to the evolving digital economy in the age of artificial intelligence, she emphasized in particular the importance of organizing public discussion of research in this field.

Dr. Can Özcan, a faculty member at Hasan Kalyoncu University, delivered a presentation on the challenges of applying smart logistics in the context of AI. The speaker presented extensive research on smart economy, smart logistics, smart customs, single window systems, smart ports, and the impact of digitalization on logistics systems in the modern environment.

Polad Orujov, coordinator of the Department of Economics and Management and a researcher specializing in tourism, world economy, and economic geography, delivered an engaging and topical presentation on current challenges in tourism education within the Tourism 5.0. The speaker addressed the characteristics of modern tourism development, the core principles of contemporary tourism education, the potential impacts of artificial intelligence on tourism practice, workforce training within the Tourism 5.0 framework, tourism research, and modern tourism education, as well as key issues relating to opportunities and risks.

Finally, Hasan Rahimli, a lecturer at the Department of Economics and Management, delivered a presentation on the political-ideological and philosophical-ethical aspects of the corporatization of the modern University 3.0 model and the commercialization of scientific research.

During the interactive session, the speakers also responded to questions from students on a variety of topics.