Another Support from UNDP to Cukurova Innovation Ecosystem: Design Cukurova Innovation Challenge

August 31, 2020

Under the Job Creation Component of the Turkey Resilience Project in Response to the Syria Crisis (TRP) implemented jointly with the T.R. Ministry of Industry and Technology with funding from the European Union (EU), Adana and Mersin Innovation Centres continue to support the innovation ecosystem in Cukurova Region in line with the job creation objective.

The Design Cukurova Challenge as a contest to increase innovation capacities in product design of enterprises in the ecosystem targeting various prominent sectors in Cukurova Region is organised jointly by Adana Chamber of Industry (ADASO), Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MTSO) and Mersin-Tarsus Organized Industry Zone (OSB). The first challenge this year focuses on innovative sustainable packaging solutions that will benefit exports and consumers in the agri-food value chain in Cukurova.

Calling on designers, engineers, material scientists and all those who work in relevant fields to be part of the solution, the challenge consists of two stages. The first stage involves screening and jury evaluation, and projects which succeed through will be eligible for support in product development and prototyping in the second stage. The challenge invites participants whose successful projects will eventually receive development award, monetary prizes and many other in-kind awards.

Adana and Mersin Innovation Centres, established under the Job Creation Component of the Turkey Resilience Project in Response to the Syria Crisis (TRP), along with Izmir Innovation Centre launched in the Izmir part of the project, aim to support innovation and branding processes of SMEs and entrepreneurs, strengthen local economies, help transform the industry locally and nationally, promote employment opportunities, thus eventually contribute to sustainable development. Izmir, Adana and Mersin Innovation Centres have already organized many training and certification programmes, and continues to promote the ecosystem and innovative ideas through such challenges as Design Cukurova in addition to their regular services.

Under the project, Adana Start-up Weekend was organized last year that brough together many participants of Syrian refugees and host communities, expert mentors and angel investors, enabling participants to present their ideas of enterprise and business development, and emerging innovative and feasible business ideas were awarded. Izmir Hackathon, held last year to search for innovative and sustainable solutions to urban transport, brought together many original software developers and designers, and the ideas selected by the jury were awarded various prizes.

For more information: https://tasarlacukurova.com/