INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS OFFICE

1.1. Purpose

İTÜ ARI Teknokent conducts its activities related to international projects in line with the objectives specified in Law No. 4691 on Technology Development Zones. In this scope, the International Projects Office, on behalf of ARI Teknokent, applies for grants funded by the European Commission using its legal PIC (Corporate Identification) number assigned by the funding authority and manages the international projects developed in collaboration with foreign partners.

These projects aim to increase the international competitiveness of the country's industry, as outlined in Article 1 of the Technology Development Zones Law No. 4691, and support its shift towards an export-oriented structure. The objectives also include generating innovative knowledge, developing innovations in products and production methods, increasing productivity, supporting technology-intensive production and entrepreneurship, providing more representation for underrepresented groups in the ecosystem, creating investment opportunities in technology-intensive fields, offering training and mentoring support to researchers and qualified individuals, and facilitating entrepreneurs’ access to incremental grants through international projects.

Another goal is to assist students at İTÜ in their academic journey by providing workshops and seminars funded through grants from international projects, creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs to emerge.

1.2. Structure of the International Projects Office

The International Projects Office is responsible for establishing partnerships, developing projects, and managing the projects that have been awarded, particularly in the fields of entrepreneurship and innovation.

İTÜ ARI Teknokent is a management company that carries out its own project applications. It performs various tasks, including, but not limited to, creating content for projects, preparing reports, monitoring project outcomes, and managing project budgets. If entrepreneurial companies within ARI Teknokent are interested in this area, consultancy support is also provided.

1.3. Application to the International Projects

The International Projects Office primarily applies for the project calls of European Union (EU) programs, as well as various international funding sources, to implement projects that strengthen the region's entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem. These initiatives are designed to foster collaboration, support innovation, and promote sustainable development. The EU programs include well-known funding schemes such as the European Innovation Ecosystem (EIE), the Digital Europe Program, the Single Market Program, the EuropeAid Tender, and Erasmus+.

The objectives of these programs include:
· Strengthening regional innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems,
· Promoting collaboration between less developed innovation regions and more advanced ones,
· Offering international mentorship, educational, and investment opportunities,
· Supporting the establishment of innovation hubs and innovation valleys,
· Raising awareness on green and digital transformation issues, and
· Facilitating access to international funding sources.

The international projects developed under these programs aim to:
· Provide the region with access to new international knowledge and support the professional development of staff working in accelerator centers,
· Connect regional startups with international mentorship, education, and investment opportunities through cross-border collaborations,
· Raise awareness within the ecosystem, particularly on the topics of twin transformation, green, and digital transformation,
· Generate resources by leveraging international grant opportunities,
· Assist entrepreneurs in accessing incremental funding for growth.

1.4. International Project Development Process

ARI Teknokent, as a management company with its legal structure, develops its own projects through the International Projects Office and its team. Within this scope, the following activities are carried out:

· Call Analysis: A A detailed analysis of European Union calls is conducted, and programs to apply for are identified.
· Application Strategy: A tailored application strategy is developed for the programs identified as a result of the call analysis.
· Partnership Building: Communication is established with institutions previously partnered with or interested in the relevant project call, and project consortia are formed.
· TÜBİTAK EOI (Expression of Interest) Document: The "Expression of Interest" document provided by TÜBİTAK is completed, and communication is established with other organizations abroad seeking project partners through National Contact Points.
· Preparation of Application Documents: Application documents are prepared following online meetings held with the identified partners. During this process, consensus is reached on application documents and the budget, and applications are submitted via the online platform of the funding institution.

1.5. International Project Management Process

Projects applied by the International Projects Office are announced within 3 to 5 months. For projects that are awarded, below components are included in the project management process:

· Project Contracting Process: Financial, legal, and institutional documents requested by the funding institution for supported projects are prepared. Consortium agreements and contracts related to intellectual property rights (IPR) are drafted in collaboration with the legal department.
· Implementation of Activities: Work packages and activities proposed by ARI Teknokent are carried out from the beginning to the end of the project. These activities include background work such as various analyses and ecosystem mapping, as well as programs like seminars, workshops, demo days, and mentorship.
· Project Reporting: Outputs of the activities conducted during the project are compiled, and interim and final reports are prepared.
· Budget Management: Income and expenditure tracking of the budget is performed for the activities carried out within the scope of the project.

2. Completed and Ongoing Projects

2.1. Completed Projects

European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE)

EFSE supports the Fin-Tech companies in developing a proof of concept, testing it, validating their business model, and finally finding capital to grow their business.

Under this project, the start-ups were identified, mentored, and accelerated according to their potential to use financial technology – or “fintech” – to boost financial inclusion in developing countries.

ITU ARI conducted technical workshops, investor meetings, early customer demo days, and tech talks. 3 Fintech companies in ITU Çekirdek also benefitted from EFSE.

Project Website: https://www.efse.lu/

Women Entrepreneurs in Regional Inclusive Entrepreneurship Ecosystems (WeRin)

The WeRin project targeted to increase the share of female graduate entrepreneurs and enhance their level of embeddedness in regional entrepreneurial ecosystems across Europe, increasing the share of women’s participation in entrepreneurship education by 15% and in entrepreneurship support programs by 20% within three years of project completion.

In the project, ITU ARI Teknokent showcased successful female role model entrepreneurs embedded in the regional ecosystem and collected best practices in its region for creating a more inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem. ITU ARI organized the Local Think Thank and Nudge Workshop. Finally contributed to the knowledge creation for the WeRin Toolbox.

This Europe-based pioneering initiative was carried out over three years between 2021 and 2023 with 14 partners from six countries: Turkey, Germany, Ireland, Croatia, the Netherlands, and Norway. It was funded with a grant of €984,685 through the Erasmus+ (Knowledge Alliance) program.

Project Website: https://werinproject.eu/

Technical Assistance for Izmir Network and Innovation (NIC)

The NIC project aimed to enhance the commercialization and internationalization of innovative products, by fostering networks and strategic partnerships among relevant stakeholders in Aegean Region. In the project, ITU ARI Teknokent has transferred its more than 10 years of experience in entrepreneurship programs to the Izmir Network and Innovation Center, contributing to the effort to increase the high technology, innovation, and design capacity in İzmir.
The project united five partners from technology parks, incubation centers, universities, and research & innovation consultation centers based in three European Countries.

During the project, İTÜ ARI Teknokent supported entrepreneurs through acceleration programs conducted over three years, providing training in various fields with the help of mentors and assisting entrepreneurs aiming to enter new markets. The project was funded with a grant of €2,572,539 under the EuropeAid Tender program between 2021 and 2023.

Project Website: https://www.izmirnic.com/

2.2. Ongoing Projects

Technical Assistance for the 'DTECH4ENT Deep Technology Incubator for Entrepreneurs (DTECH4ENT)

The DTECH4ENT Project aims to enhance the commercialization and internationalization of innovative products by establishing a smart specialized interface targeting early-stage deep-technology start-up commercialization in Ege Technology Park, aiming to develop a factory with the infrastructure, to enable Deep Tech start-ups to utilize for prototyping and small-scale production.

ITU ARI Teknokent transfers its more than 10 years of experience in entrepreneurship programs to the Ege Technology Park and shares its know-how on establishing an incubation center as a partner organization in the deep-tech vertical. The project is being carried out in collaboration with seven partners, including technology parks, incubation centers, universities, and research and innovation consultancy centers located in four European countries: Ireland, France, Italy, and Turkey. Within the project, İTÜ ARI Teknokent contributes by providing Market Analysis, Technical Analysis, Product Development, and Go-to-Market Strategies to Ege Technopark entrepreneurs. The DTECH4ENT project has been funded with a grant of €3,132,250 under the EuropeAid Tender program for three years, spanning 2022-2025.

Project Website: https://egedtech.com/tr/

Manufacturing Innovation Digital Advancement Services Hub (MIDAS)

By establishing a European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) in Türkiye, MIDAS project aims to offer a comprehensive suite of services to SMEs operating in the manufacturing sector within Türkiye and the broader EU framework, including digital maturity assessments, training sessions, consultancy, and pre-investment testing, designed to boost digital capabilities and foster innovation.

EDIHs establish a network of technology specialists who collaborate to support European businesses and organizations in their digital transformation journey, providing the necessary digital tools to enhance competitiveness, upgrade infrastructure, and strengthen overall digital capabilities.

Within the scope of the project, ARI Teknokent has become Turkey's first European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) as one of the project partners. The project will be carried out over four years, from 2025 to 2029, with eight partners consisting of universities, a technology park, local funding institutions, and digitalization centers in Turkey. It has been awarded funding of €1,922,623 through the Digital Europe Program.

Project Website: Under Construction

Empowering Women Innovators to Champion Sustainability, Digitalisation, and Diversity in Fashion (FaiR Fashion)

The project aims to improve fashion and textiles education by integrating sustainability, digital innovation, inclusive entrepreneurship, and leadership, specifically for university-level students, higher education (HE) lecturers, high-level executives of these HE institutions, women entrepreneurs and women-led SMEs in these fields.

It aims to enhance quality in fashion and textile education by addressing environmental sustainability and digital transformation in the fashion industry, while specifically promoting women’s leadership in these areas.

İTÜ ARI Teknokent leverages its extensive network of leading companies in the fashion and textile sector to enhance the industry-related value of the project and broaden its impact. Within the project, İTÜ ARI Teknokent will connect female students with women entrepreneurs, providing them with opportunities to collaborate using the latest technologies. Additionally, it will offer female students the education, skills, and mentorship support they need in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship.

As ARI Teknokent, our goal is to ensure that university students equally benefit from the entrepreneurial ecosystem, raise awareness about digital and green transformation, and lead the creation of a more inclusive entrepreneurial environment by integrating female students into this ecosystem.

The FaiRFashion project will be implemented between 2025-2027 with six partners from universities and technology centers in Denmark, Amsterdam, Germany, Ireland, and Turkey. It has been awarded funding of €328,000 under the Erasmus+ Program.

Project Website: https://fairfashionproject.eu/

Social Entrepreneurs Exchange Development – Building Resilient and Innovative Digital and Green Enterprises (SEEDbridge)

The SeedBridge Project is supported by the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) program in Europe. The EYE program is a cross-border collaboration initiative that provides learning opportunities by facilitating exchanges between new entrepreneurs, who either own a business or plan to start one within the past three years, and experienced entrepreneurs, who have owned a business for over three years across the EU.

The program is implemented by Intermediary Organizations (IOs), established to connect young entrepreneurs in the region with experienced entrepreneurs. Leveraging its expertise in the technology sector and entrepreneurial ecosystem, İTÜ ARI Teknokent, in collaboration with project partners, will enable 215 startups to gain experience in institutions across different countries.

The SeedBridge Project brings together six partners, including entrepreneurship centers, chambers of commerce, and technology parks from Greece, Spain, Italy, Ukraine, Turkey, and Norway. It aims to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of SMEs across Europe and has been awarded a grant of €867,850 to be implemented between 2025-2028.

İTÜ ARI Teknokent has been authorized to be an Intermediary Organization (IO) representing Turkey at the EU level, being on of the few to provide these services.

Project Website: Under Construction

3. Cooperation

European Engineering Learning Innovation and Science Alliance (EELISA)
EELISA is an alliance of Higher Education Institutions (graduate engineering schools, technology universities and full-spectrum universities) from different countries in Europe. The aim of the project is to develop a common European engineer profile rooted in the society, with increased inclusiveness, multi-disciplinary approach, and commitment.

ITU ARI Teknokent is the external partner of the consortium in the innovation and entrepreneurship leg of the project, helping the dissemination and communication of the Project to the wider audience within Europe as well as to hundreds of companies within the technology park. The project unites ten partners from universities and science parks based in six different European countries.