Izmir NIC Meetups for Internationalization event was held on May 13, 2022 at Teknopark Izmir. The event started with the opening speech and project presentation of Izmir NIC Coordinator Miray Şanlı Taşkın and continued with presentations and speeches by Team Leader David Tee and Key Commercialization Expert Gökhan Çelebi. In the first section, participants were informed about the Accelerate Izmir Programme, while the project process and functioning were evaluated. In the opening part of the programme, Teknopark Izmir Senior Manager Prof. Dr. Metin Tanoğlu also made a opening speech for the participants. Tanoğlu informed the participants about the activities of Teknopark Izmir.
In the presentations made within the scope of Internationalisation Support Organizations, Business France Turkey Internal Investments Manager Cecile Lavigne, Netherlands Technology and Science Innovation Center Innovation Consultant Rory Nuijens, Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency Turkey and Balkans Director Necla Günay, Great Britain International Trade Unit Internal Investment Head Zeynep Atay Öztekbaş, British Consulate Expert Investment Advisor Mehmet Başaran and TÜBİTAK Horizon Europe Programme – EIC National Contact Point Tarık Şahin gave information with 15-minute presentations, investment opportunities, opportunities and investor ecosystem in Europe, taxation system and regulations varying from country to country, adaptation of investors to the country, investment funds available to investors and informed the participants about important issues such as the amounts.
In the presentations, where the investment environment of countries such as the Netherlands, Britain and France and the benefits they provide to business ideas that are open to development were examined, the participants had the opportunity to learn about business ideas, to evaluate the investor opportunities that are suitable for them, to gain information about the activities for the startup ecosystem and to gain a vision to develop their business ideas with a global perspective. Emphasizing the importance of business ideas and a business plan, investment representatives stated that well-planned and well-defined business processes are very advantageous in terms of international investment. Representatives also informed the participants about possible local and global risks.
In the second part of the event, international investment representatives, companies and company officials held one-on-one meetings. Representatives of internationalisation support organisations also had one-on-one meetings with the company representatives in the programme The interviews focused on the discovery of the potentials of the companies and possible opportunities. During the day-long events, expert representatives from different European countries had the opportunity to meet with all companies and business ideas.
İzmir NIC – İzmir Network and Innovation Centre Project
İzmir NIC, which is carried out by Teknopark İzmir within the scope of Competitive Sectors Program implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, financed by the European Union and the Republic of Turkey, aims to increase the commercialization and internationalization of innovative products by developing strategic networks and partnerships among relevant stakeholders. Focusing on the Information and Communication Technologies and Renewable Energy sectors, which are among the pioneers of economic development, the aim of the project is to increase the capacity of the innovation ecosystem actors (SME, Start-Up, TTO, TGB, R&D Centers, etc.) in İzmir through trainings, acceleration and mentoring support and networking activities aims to develop. The project, implemented with the participation of İzmir Institute of Technology (İYTE) and Software Industrialists Association (YASAD), is planned to be completed in 3 years.
