Within the scope of İzmir NIC Project, İzmir NIC Talks and Internationalization Networking Events were held on April 26 and May 3, 2023 for the Internationalization targets of İzmir NIC under the supervision of Teknopark İzmir. In the events held online and physically on different dates, representatives of international institutions from Finland, the United Kingdom, France, Lithuania, Portugal and TÜBİTAK met with startups and entrepreneurs.
In the webinar held on April 26 within the scope of İzmir NIC Talks, Business Finland Talent Manager Sezin Ata Diler, Senior Inward Investment Advisor of the British Consulate General Mehmet Başaran, Business France Turkey Inward Investment Manager Cecile Lavigne, Lithuanian Ambassador Ricardas Degutis and Startup Lithuania Manager Roberta Rudokiene, Startup Portugal Programme Manager Francisca Sampaio and TÜBİTAK Horizon Europe Program – European Innovation Council (EIC) National Contact Point Tarık Şahin conducted presentations introducing their institutions. In the webinar moderated by İzmir NIC Project Key and Commercialization Expert Gökhan Çelebi, the representatives of the institutions also talked about internationalization opportunities and startup ecosystems for entrepreneurs and conveyed possible opportunities for the participants. The webinar was completed with the participation of 57 people in total.
Within the scope of the Internationalization Networking Event held physically at Teknopark İzmir on May 3, 2023, four important representatives from Finland, France, England and TÜBİTAK were hosted. Business France Turkey Inward Investment Manager Cecile Lavigne, British Consulate General Senior Inward Investment Consultant Mehmet Başaran, TÜBİTAK National Contact Point Tarık Şahin and Business Finland Talent Manager Sezin Ata Diler met with the participants in different sessions. The opening speech and project presentation of the event was made by Teknopark İzmir General Manager Prof. Dr. Metin Tanoğlu and Project Coordinator Efsa Sabit. In the continuation of the opening speech, İzmir NIC Project Team Leader David Tee shared his presentation with the participants including flow and information about Izmir NIC Project.
In the Event, international representatives conducted 58 one-on-one meetings with a total of 19 companies and a predetermined meeting schedule. During the one-on-one meetings that lasted throughout the day, the focus was on evaluating the potentials and possible international opportunities of startups and company representatives participating in the programme. During the meetings, international representatives shared their experiences with the companies regarding the startup regulations that vary from country to country, possible investment opportunities, activities for the startup ecosystem, global perspectives for developing business ideas, and local and global risks.
Companies participating in the event had the opportunity to share information with the representatives within the scope of internationalization and gained information and network about various international programmes and opportunities. The one-on-one sessions offered an opportunity to explore and foresight about the direction that companies and entrepreneurs will set themselves in the future.
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.
