The first KOSGEB-supported Technology Development Center (TEKMER) was opened in local governments. Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank, who made the official opening of Tuzla Municipality TEKMER, stated that studies will be carried out in the fields of biotechnology, software, chemistry and artificial intelligence applications at the center and said, “Tuzla Municipality set out with a visionary perspective. This TEKMER will be both an example and a pioneer for other municipalities.” said.
The ceremony held for the opening of Tuzla Municipality TEKMER was attended by Minister Varank as well as AK Party Istanbul deputies Osman Boyraz and Serkan Bayram, KOSGEB President Hasan Basri Kurt, Tuzla Mayor Şadi Yazıcı, Gebze Technical University Rector Prof. Dr. Haci Ali Mantar, Rector of Istanbul Medeniyet University Prof. Dr. Gülfettin Çelik and Istanbul Development Agency Secretary General Erkam Tüzgen attended the meeting.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Varank said:
17 TACKLE
We are together with you on the occasion of the opening ceremony of Tuzla Municipality Technology Development Center located in this unique park. Technology development centers, where effective services are provided to entrepreneurs and businesses in pre- and post-incubation processes, continue to become widespread throughout Turkey. As the Ministry of Industry and Technology, we have pioneered the establishment of 17 TEKMERs so far with the help of our related organization KOSGEB. Since 2021, 15 new TEKMERs have been operational.
VISIONARY PERSPECTIVE
Of course, we have to tell the difference of Tuzla Municipality Technology Development Center, which we opened. Tuzla Municipality set out with a visionary perspective. This is our first TEKMER established on the basis of local governments. In this sense, they were pioneers. Hopefully, the center will host innovative ideas that are the key to competitiveness. By working in the fields of biotechnology, software, chemistry and artificial intelligence, significant contributions will be made to our innovation ecosystem. In other words, this TEKMER will be both an example and a pioneer for other municipalities.
TURCORN 100 PROGRAM
The entrepreneurship ecosystem in Turkey has taken flight, especially in the last 2 years. Our number of unicorns, or turcorns as we call them, has reached a valuation of billions of dollars at the moment. Two of them have reached a valuation of over 6 billion dollars. We are launching the turcorn 2 program to pave the way for more turcorn candidates. With this program, we will continue to support early stage startups and technology startups with global goals. This support program is a perfect fit for Tuzla TEKMER's goals. I would like to both warn and advise our friends here. They should also follow the turcorn 10 program that we will announce. As a part of that program, we want to see Tuzla Municipality TEKMER.
WE DO NOT STAND OVER
KOSGEB President Kurt said that KOSGEB took TEKMERs under its own management until 2019, and made an expansion after 2019. Explaining that the incubation ecosystem also paved the way for OIZs, chambers of commerce and municipalities to open technology centers in order to spread entrepreneurship to the base, KOSGEB President Kurt said, “We provide support in many areas from organization to interior equipment, but we do not give our support and step aside. We will always be in it. We will always be in Tuzla TEKMER.” said.
WE WILL HAVE SUCCESS CRITERIA
Kurt emphasized that the success of a TEKMER, which is held with the municipality for the first time, will also be our success criterion for them, and said, “There has been a very serious favor so far. We will continue to support the national technology move, the youth's passion for entrepreneurship, and our TEKMERs in Turkey, and hopefully our municipalities, industrial zones, chambers of commerce, as well as our universities will strongly contribute to the spread of these incubators, and together we will hopefully strengthen the national technology move. ” he said.
WE WILL SUPPORT YOUTH
Tuzla Mayor Şadi Yazıcı stated that Tuzla is an industry-based district and said, “We are here at TEKMER, with many stages including pre-incubation, incubation and post-incubation investments, especially business development, providing financial support, management and consultancy, and mentoring. We will support all our young people who say, 'I have an idea'. said.
SUPPORT UP TO 6 MILLION LIRA
TEKMERs; to entrepreneurs and businesses in pre-incubation, incubation, post-incubation processes; provides services such as business development, access to financial resources, management, consultancy, mentoring, participation in offices and networks. Within the scope of KOSGEB's 5-year TEKMER Support Program, a total of 6 million TL support is provided to the operating company for furniture and hardware, machinery-equipment and software expenses for common use, personnel expenses, training, consultancy, organization and promotion expenses.
THERE ARE 13 WORKSHOPS
Tuzla Municipality TEKMER, which has a closed area of 2 thousand 250 square meters, has a laboratory area of 375 square meters and a workshop area of 13 square meters for 621 workshops. TEKMER also cooperates with Gebze Technical University, Istanbul Technical University and Istanbul Medeniyet University. Tuzla TEKMER will operate in the fields of biotechnology, chemistry, artificial intelligence and software.
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