ITU ARI Teknokent on Media
09.05.2025
AstraZeneca, with global experience in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, and ITU ARI Teknokent, the pioneer of technology-oriented entrepreneurship in Türkiye, have joined forces to support start-ups developing innovative solutions in the field of healthcare. Launched earlier this year, the collaboration aims to strengthen Türkiye's entrepreneurial potential in the field of health technologies while supporting the growth of health initiatives. AstraZeneca Türkiye, with its science-based approach and patient-focused vision, will provide mentoring and expertise to entrepreneurs at ITU ARI Teknokent's incubation centre, ITU Çekirdek. This support, combined with ITU ARI Teknokent's strong entrepreneurship infrastructure, is open to entrepreneurs who want to develop effective and sustainable solutions in the field of health.
AstraZeneca Türkiye has signed a strategic partnership with ITU ARI Teknokent to support start-ups developing innovative solutions in the field of health technologies. Through this partnership, AstraZeneca will contribute to the development of health initiatives within ITU Çekirdek. With the vision of 'changing lives with the power of science', this collaboration aims to accelerate sustainable change in healthcare systems. Entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to develop science-based and patient-focused solutions in priority treatment areas such as oncology, cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic and rare diseases with AstraZeneca's expertise. The collaboration will provide entrepreneurs with comprehensive support in many areas, including product development,
regulatory processes, market access and mentoring through AstraZeneca's AZ Lab programme. This programme aims to bring together AstraZeneca's global expertise in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology with ITU Çekirdek's internationally proven entrepreneurship infrastructure to create effective and sustainable healthcare projects. Entrepreneurs interested in participating in the programme can apply at itucekirdek.com until 12 May 2025.
AstraZeneca, an innovative and research-based pharmaceutical company operating in more than 100 countries, touches the lives of millions of people with treatment solutions based on scientific research. AstraZeneca Türkiye, which has been operating in Türkiye for many years, stands out for its projects that support the entrepreneurship ecosystem and its vision of sustainable health.
The ITU Çekirdek Incubation Centre has been operating since 2011 to accelerate the development of technology-focused start-ups. The centre, which has supported more than 5,000 startups and 11,000 entrepreneurs, has achieved international success by being selected as the "World's Best University Incubation Centre" by Sweden-based UBI Global in 2023. Receiving more than 7,000 applications each year, ITU Çekirdek contributes to the growth of an average of 500 startups through its training programmes, mentoring opportunities, investment opportunities and extensive business network support.
AstraZeneca Türkiye, which last year supported initiatives focusing on areas such as digital transformation in healthcare, artificial intelligence and remote patient monitoring under the umbrella of the A.Catalyst Network, is taking its contribution to healthcare innovation a step further this year through a collaboration with ITU Çekirdek.
The Key To Healthcare Transformation Lies İn Entrepreneurship And Collaboration
Yağız Aydemir, Board Member, Information Technologies and Digital Director, AstraZeneca Türkiye, said: "Innovation is in AstraZeneca's DNA. As AstraZeneca Türkiye, our vision is to lead the development of our country's healthcare ecosystem through innovation. In this direction, we find the AZ LAB programme, which we will implement in cooperation with ITU Çekirdek, one of the world's leading incubation centres, very valuable. We invite all initiatives working in the field of healthcare to apply for the AZ LAB programme and support the process with their solutions that will create value for patients.
Prof. Dr. Attila Dikbaş, Director General of ITU ARI Teknokent, said: "Health technologies are a field with both social benefit and high impact potential. As ITU ARI Teknokent, this collaboration with AstraZeneca, which is also an important building block for the areas covered by 'Lifetech', one of our focus areas for 2025, will enable our health entrepreneurs to access information, experience and global vision more quickly. We are very excited to embark on this global journey together.
Through this collaboration, AstraZeneca Türkiye and ITU ARI Teknokent aim to pave the way for projects that will shape not only today's healthcare system, but also the healthcare system of the future.
