UNDP Turkey’s Big Support to Innovation Ecosystems of Adana, İzmir and Mersin

November 27, 2020

Innovation is one of the most discussed issues of the last decade. Getting more and more integrated into the product and business development processes in diverse sectors every day, innovation has become even more important with the Covid-19 period and its adverse impacts on business sector.

Innovation Centers will be established under the UNDP Turkey’s Syria Crisis Response and Resilience Portfolio, Turkey Resilience Project in Response to the Syria Crisis – Job Creation Component. The centers aim to support national and international competitiveness and economic development of Adana, İzmir and Mersin by carrying over the ever-growing value and potential of innovation to those cities.

Established conjointly with the Ministry of Industry and Technology, Innovation Centers draw their strength from the existing experience and innovation ecosystems of the local. The centers, founded in cooperation with Adana Chamber of Industry in Adana, İzmir Chamber of Industry in İzmir, and Mersin Chamber of Industry and Commerce and Mersin-Tarsus Organized Industrial Zone in Mersin, are intended to support local businesses in enhancing their product quality and developing their R&D-based products and production capacities. From education and certificate programs to consultancy and mentorship supports, Innovation Centers will provide a wide range of services to their users in the areas of R&D, information and data management, business and product development, innovation, development acceleration and partnerships. Thanks to all these, the centers will appeal to various users including national and international companies, SMEs, entrepreneurs and start-ups.

Even though they are still in the foundation phase, Innovation Centers already started working. The centers which implement most of their activities online due to the Covid-19 measures met with their first users through webinars and education programs. They supported the competitiveness of local companies with Commercialization Program while bringing local innovators together with experts specialized in various areas through Innovation Gatherings and several other webinar series. Innovation Centers which will add more to their existing activities in the coming months has already grabbed a considerable attention among innovators and innovation lovers. We will continue reporting the latest developments about Adana, İzmir and Mersin Innovation Centers which are expected to be open soon.