The first internationalisation networking activity within the scope of Accelerate Izmir programme, realised as part of the İzmir NIC Project, implemented by Teknopark Izmir, was successfully completed between September 25 and October 1, 2022.
The mission was structured following the completion of detailed market analysis reports of the four selected Accelerate Izmir companies by international experts, as part of the Internationalisation Plus Service. The four companies are Windlar, Loggma, Delta Smart Technologies, and Ne Ekersen, which create technology and software for sustainable energy, operation management, and agriculture sectors. Following the initial discussions, business development-oriented contacts were made with connections in Spain and Portugal and the companies that would be participating in the activity were introduced. Within the scope of the visits, with different programmes structured for each company, a total of one hundred one-to-one meetings were held.
On September 26, representatives of Enterprise Europe Network – Fundacion para el Conocimiento Madri+d (European Enterprise Network – Madrid) hosted the Project Team and Accelerate Izmir companies in Madrid, the first destination of the visits. At the meeting where the companies made their presentations and introduced their businesses, İzmir NIC Project Coordinator Ms Miray Şanlı Taşkın introduced Teknopark İzmir and the İzmir NIC Project. The meeting, which was honoured with the participation of Ms Nazlı Seza Onat, Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Madrid, successfully concluded with the presentations of the EEN representatives. Following the first meeting, Ms Yasemen Korukçu, Spain Country Advisor to the Presidential Investment Office of the Republic of Turkey, was visited. During the meeting, where Ms Yasemen Korukçu explained the activities of the Presidential Investment Office, Accelerate Izmir companies were informed about the supports and opportunities in Spain.
Within the scope of the Spain programme, Mr Burak Akçapar, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Madrid, and Ms Nazlı Seza Onat, Commercial Counsellor, hosted the Project Team and the companies. In the meeting, in which the support offered by the Madrid Embassy to entrepreneurs was highlighted, detailed information about Teknopark İzmir and İzmir NIC Project was presented. The meeting also saw Accelerate İzmir companies talking about their businesses.
The Spanish part of the tour was concluded following meetings with significant technology development and entrepreneurship centres such as ENEL Europe Hub, ICEX Spain, ISDI Accelerator, and CAP Gemini, along with prospective investor and client meetings.
As part of the programme in Portugal, the companies participated in important major events. The representatives of Windlar, Loggma and Delta Smart Technologies made important contacts at The Business Booster: Innoenergy event, which was held in Lisbon this year. Ne Ekersen attended the Smart AgriHubs event, which was organised under the framework of Horizon 2020, focusing on the sustainable agricultural industry. Following the events, the companies continued their contacts with possible investors and customers, supported by Portuguese experts.
In the meantime, the project team established contacts with the technology development and entrepreneur support institutions: DNA Cascais, Sines Tecnopolo, and IPN Coimbra. The project activities and the Izmir entrepreneurial ecosystem were introduced at the meetings organised with the focus on partnership development. As a consequence of these meetings, significant partners were gained in line with the internationalisation scope.
The first international networking and cooperation visits were concluded within a week, in which a total of one-to-one meetings were achieved. The second group of visits, which were conducted for the two selected Accelerate Izmir companies, was held in the United Kingdom on October 2-8.
İzmir NIC – İzmir Network and Innovation Centre Project
İzmir Network and Innovation Centre (İzmir NIC) Project, is implemented by Teknopark İzmir within the scope of the Ministry of Industry and Technology Competitive Sectors Programme, realised with the financial support of the European Union and the Republic of Turkey, aiming to enhance the commercialisation and internationalisation of innovative products, by fostering networks and strategic partnership among relevant stakeholders. The project, focusing on ICT and RE sectors, which are among the pioneers of economic development; aims to increase the capacities of innovation ecosystem actors (SME, Start-up, TTO, TGB, R&D Centres, etc.) in İzmir through training, Acceleration programmes, mentoring support, and networking activities.
The project, implemented with partners İzmir Institute of Technology (İYTE) and the Software Industrialists Association (YASAD), will run for 3 years.
