The Onboarding- Kick Off Meeting of Accelerate İzmir: Growth Strategy Validation Programme Second Cohort within the scope of İzmir NIC Project, which Teknopark İzmir undertakes, has been successfully completed with 102 participants. The meeting was held on 23rd of February 2023, where the Accelerate İzmir Programme Second Cohort was initiated and selected 32 companies for the Acceleration Programme from the information-communication technology and renewable energy sectors were brought together with their Coaches.
The first session of the Kick-off Meeting of the Accelerate İzmir Programme, which supports the selected companies in the programme in many areas such as training, mentoring, access to markets, legal service support, investor meetings and networking activities, was started with the opening speech of Teknopark İzmir General Manager Prof. Dr. Metin Tanoğlu. In the continuation of the session, OCU Coordinator Mr. Burak Köle informed the companies and coaches regarding the İzmir NIC Project and the Accelerate İzmir Programme and presented the İzmir NIC Project Team members who will support the companies throughout the Cohort.
In the ongoing session of Accelerate İzmir Programme Kick-off Meeting, the selected company representatives delivered one and a half-minute presentations on the stage and had the opportunity to meet with their coaches who would support them in accordance with their sectors and areas of expertise. Valuable coaches, who will convey their knowledge and experience to Accelerate İzmir companies throughout the Second Cohort, took their place on the stage together with company representatives and introduced themselves. This session of the programme was moderated by İzmir NIC Project Key Expert Gökhan Çelebi and he contributed to informing the participants about the Second Cohort of the Accelerate İzmir Programme and ensuring a productive transition to the Second Cohort.
The afternoon session of the Kick-off Meeting continued with the one-to-one meetings of company representatives and coaches at the Incubation Area of Teknopark İzmir. Thus, the support process that the coaches will provide to the companies and the process of preparing the Barrier Analysis and the First Commercialization Roadmap specific to the companies were started. This session of the meeting was moderated by İzmir NIC Project Mentoring Expert Ms. Sinem Altuncu.
While the Kick-off Meeting was concluded successfully, the company-coach meetings and support process started, company representatives cleared their questions about the Accelerate İzmir Programme, shared their expectations and thoughts, and had the opportunity to meet the İzmir NIC Project Team closely.
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.
