At the “HKU R&D Technologies Project Fair”, organised by Hasan Kalyoncu University (HKU) for the 12th time this year and showcasing innovative ideas and technological projects, figures who shape the entrepreneurship ecosystem shared their knowledge and experience with participants, and awards were presented in a ceremony to those who placed in the project competition.
The event, held at the HKU Congress and Culture Centre, was attended by Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to Türkiye Bahtijors Hasans, HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli, HKU Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Gül Rengin Küçükerdoğan and Prof. Dr. Mehmet Lütfi Yola, Head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences (FEASS) Prof. Dr. Ahmet Keser, FEASS faculty member Dr. Burhan Akyılmaz, Director of the Kalyoncu Innovation and Technology Transfer Office (KALİTTO) Cengiz Helvacıkara, academics and students.
Speaking at the opening of the programme, HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli said: “As of the beginning of 2025, 16 TÜBİTAK-supported R&D projects are being carried out by our academics. Our students, for their part, have performed well in recent years under the TÜBİTAK BİDEB-2209 University Students Research Projects programme and have put more than 100 projects into practice. With 115 applications, Hasan Kalyoncu University became the 29th university in Türkiye with the most patent and utility model applications, and ranked 8th among foundation universities. With 10 commercialisation agreements, Hasan Kalyoncu University ranked 9th overall and 2nd among foundation universities in the ‘Patent Commercialisation Champion Universities’ ranking, achieving significant success in turning its innovative projects into economic value.”
FEASS faculty member Dr. Burhan Akyılmaz said: “All the projects were extremely valuable. As Hasan Kalyoncu University, we will all work together to turn all of these projects into investment.”
In the project competition, first prize was won by Mahmut Sami Büyükkonuk, who designed a trade fair stand using recycled materials. Asst. Prof. Dr. Nebiye Kızıl came second with her plant-based biodegradable face mask project, and Res. Asst. Furkan Uzcan came third with his nano-layered military fabric design. In addition, at the ceremony, OnBT Information Technologies and Kalyon Holding Technology Chair Oğuzhan Yıldız presented a certificate of appreciation to Melike Türkaslan, a Mechanical Engineering student who won an award in the “Reaching and Accessing Türkiye 2053 Inter-University Idea Competition” with the “Jet Engine Turbine Blading” project, and to her academic advisor Asst. Prof. Dr. Tuba Demirel.
On the first day of the two-day event, which showcased innovative ideas and technological projects, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to Türkiye Bahtijors Hasans gave a presentation titled “Entrepreneurship Opportunities in Latvia”; OnBT Information Technologies and Kalyon Holding Technology Chair Oğuzhan Yıldız, “Is the Past a Mirror of the Future? What Awaits Us in the Future?”; Chair of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Regional Development Administration Dr. Hasan Maral, “Agricultural Technologies with New-Generation Ventures”; and KALİTTO Project Specialist Lect. Turgut Songur, “Support Offered by TÜBİTAK”.
On the second day of the event, two workshops were held: “From Idea to Future: Project Preparation and Implementation Workshop”, led by Silk Road Development Agency (İKA) experts Serap Özen and Meral Karadağ, and “Social Entrepreneurship Workshop: Step by Step from Idea to Impact”, led by Melis Kuzuoğlu and Mustafa Yazar from the Ministry of Industry and Technology SEECO Project Team.
