Kick-Off Meeting Was Held

The launch meeting of the “Strengthening the Infrastructure and Establishing the Mentor Bridge” project which is implemented by Hasan Kalyoncu University (HKU) within the scope of the Financial Assistance Program for Refugees in Turkey (FRIT) – ENHANCER, funded by the EU and coordinated by the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), TR Ministry of Industry and Technology, and Silk Road Development Agency (IKA) was held.

The event is started with the opening speeches of HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli, İpekyolu Development Agency (İKA) Secretary General Dr. Burhan Akyılmaz and ICMPD/ENHANCER Grant Management Team Leader Mehmet Çağlar Aydın.

“NEW PRODUCTS WILL BE MANUFACTURED WITH THE RIGHT METHODS”

At the opening speech of the program, HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli: “Hasan Kalyoncu University, the first foundation university of the region; OSB TEKNOKENT, which continues its activities in cooperation with different R&D units and Gaziantep Organized Industrial Zone, has important instruments for university-industry cooperation, such as the Technology Transfer Office (KALITTO) and so on, and has carried out many university-industry cooperation activities. At the Kalyon Garage Prototyping and Entrepreneurship Center, prototyping support is provided for SMEs, academics, and for our students. With the project implemented in the ENHANCER program, new product developments will be supported not only for local entrepreneurs but also for SMEs operated by Syrians under temporary protection (SuTP). For this purpose, Kalyon Garage infrastructure has been strengthened with new machinery and software. With the call opened in the project, applications are received from SMEs and entrepreneurs. The SMEs will be provided with business plan preparation support for new product ideas and will be paired with experienced mentors. In this way, it will be possible to produce and commercialize new products with the most accurate methods.”

“OUR FUNDAMENTAL GOAL IS TO EDUCATE QUALIFIED ENTREPRENEURS”

Mehmet Çağlar Aydın, Team Leader of ICMPD/ENHANCER Grant Management, who gave information about ICMPD: “We are carrying out a project aimed at the economic integration of immigrants under temporary protection who came to our country. This project is funded by the European Union. It has a budget of approximately 50 million Euros. We are trying to support qualified entrepreneurs. Our main goal is to contribute to the economy of our country and to train new entrepreneurs. We have a very good cooperation in Gaziantep. One of our institutions that was entitled to receive a grant was Hasan Kalyoncu University. They expanded and developed this project in a short time” and conveyed his thanks to everyone who contributed to the project.

“WE HAVE TO BE INDIVIDUALS INTERNALIZING ENTREPRENEURSHIP”

İpekyolu Development Agency General Secretary Dr. Burhan Akyılmaz said: “We are very pleased to take part in this project within the scope of the ENHANCER program. As İpekyolu Development Agency, we carried out many activities to strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem of our region. We assumed a great responsibility in the establishment of two entrepreneurship centers in our region. This project and other projects, for which the introductory meeting was held today, are dynamic, productive, important projects that will create employment and motivate young people. With qualified entrepreneurship projects, we now have to be individuals who internalize entrepreneurship. Our aim is to strengthen the new generation of entrepreneurship and to carry out very important activities in 2022. I hope that entrepreneurship will develop in every field, and I thank all the institutions that cooperate,” and emphasized three important projects that İpekyolu Development Agency (IKA) is working on.

Following the opening speeches, the mentors who participated in the “mentorship” training organized within the scope of the project and were entitled to receive certificates. In the continuation of the program, a presentation was made by Şevket Yılmaz, Project Coordinator of Kalyoncu Innovation and Technology Transfer Office (KALITTO), operating within HKU. HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Dereli has presented gifts for ICMPD/ENHANCER Grant Management Team Leader Mehmet Çağlar Aydın and IKA Secretary-General Dr. Burhan Akyılmaz in memory of the day. The program ended with a group photoshoot.