The inaugural Dr. T. Fikret Yücel Award Program by the Technology Development Foundation of Turkey (TTGV) rewarded achievements in innovation management.
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences member Umut Ekmekçi received the Special Jury Award for contribution to innovation management with the "National Nanotechnology Initiative."
One of the Special Jury Awardees was the "National Nanotechnology Initiative" coordinated by Umut Ekmekçi.
Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Energy Technologies and Management Graduate Program Director Dr. Umut Ekmekçi received the Special Jury Award for his "National Nanotechnology Initiative," an entirely voluntary program aiming to contribute to national-level policymaking in nanotechnology from the perspective of the industry and industrialists, and increase awareness and knowledge of nanotechnology and its potential to cause radical impact across a range of industries.
National Nanotechnology Initiative (UNG)
The National Nanotechnology Initiative (UNG) was a program that took place from 2009 to 2012 based on an innovative approach and model in technology and innovation policies. The program aimed to build industry capacity for producing value-added solutions in nanotechnology and its potential to cause radical impact across a range of industries, and was based on cooperation. UNG was an entirely voluntary program aiming to contribute to national-level policymaking in nanotechnology from the perspective of the industry and industrialists.
UNG is based on a unique model in industry-public-university collaboration (network of networks) and unique working methods. The model was designed to involve the industry perspective and spread awareness in the industry about the selection and development of national technology policies, and is a significant model for the science and technology policies of Turkey.
Technology Development Foundation of Turkey (TTGV) Dr. T. Fikret Yücel Award Program 2015 Jury Panel Members
Jury panel members for the 2015 Awards were Vispera Bilgi Teknolojileri A.Ş. CEO and Sabancı University Faculty Member Professor Aytül Erçil, Eczacıbaşı Innovation Center Advisor and Teknopark Istanbul Chief Advisor Associate Professor Cemil Arıkan, Koç University R&D Advisor and Incubation Center Managing Director Enis Erkel, Gürallar Deputy Chairperson of the Board of Directors and TÜSİAD Digital Economy Roundtable Leader Esin Güral Argat, and Yeditepe University Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department Faculty Member Professor Uğur Çilingiroğlu.