TTGV Day and Awards Program held in Ankara, with four awards presented

The TTGV Day and Awards Program was held in Ankara. The program addressed the limits of artificial intelligence, the commercialization of deep technologies and climate technologies, while four awards were presented.

The TTGV Day and Awards Program was held at a hotel in Ankara. Speaking at the opening of the program, TTGV Chair of the Board Değerhan Usluel said that the use envisioned by a technology producer and the way a customer uses it can differ, adding that this has become more pronounced in artificial intelligence.

Usluel said artificial intelligence is used for different purposes in different fields, and noted that a transformation much larger than the internet is taking place. He said the technology delivers stronger-than-expected results in some tasks, while it can cause major disappointments in some immediate and everyday areas.

TTGV expands its areas of focus

Usluel said the limits of artificial intelligence technology cannot yet be fully predicted, creating significant uncertainty. He said TTGV had designated artificial intelligence as one of its areas of focus this year, adding that the climate technologies on which it has focused for the past four years are also undergoing similar transformations.

TTGV Günü ve Ödülleri Programı Ankara’da düzenlendi: Dört ödül verildi

Usluel said TTGV contributed to establishing research and development support mechanisms in Türkiye during its first period, and became Türkiye’s first institutional venture capital investor during its second. He added that the organization continues its work aimed at technology startups.

Customer model for deep technology projects

Usluel also provided information about the Guided Project Program, which is carried out in priority technology areas and focuses on pre-commercialization learning and risk reduction. He said support and investment opportunities are available for startups seeking to implement deep technologies at real scale in Türkiye, while the main challenge is finding the first customer.

Usluel said TTGV is the first customer in the guided projects, announcing that contracts for four projects in green cement, batteries, alternative proteins and clean hydrogen had been signed the previous day. He said they aim to implement a customer model, rather than a project-based support or investment model.

Artificial intelligence and global advantage discussed

As part of the program, Parton Big Data founder Altan Çakır gave a presentation titled “Science and the Business World Transformed by Artificial Intelligence: How Should We Understand the New Era?”

During a leadership conversation, İnci Abay Cansabuncu, founder of Forenzone Strategy Studio, and Serdar Gökpınar, director of TTGV’s Innovative Technology Programs, also assessed which layer of artificial intelligence could enable Türkiye to create a global advantage.

TTGV awards presented

Following the speeches and panel discussion, the TTGV awards were presented. The “Dr. Akın Çakmakcı Pioneering Researcher Award” went to Özyeğin University faculty member Associate Professor Dr. Zeynep Başaran Bundur for her work on sustainable cement and sustainable and adaptive materials.

The “Mehmet Şuhubi Pioneering Civic Initiative Award” was presented to the Sustainable Future Platform for its work on combating climate change. The “Dr. Fikret Yücel Pioneering Company Award” was presented to HEKTAŞ for its work in innovative agricultural technologies.

The “Refik Üreyen Change Leadership Award” went to İlker Taygan for his leadership role in integrating sustainability, water and wastewater treatment, and a responsible production approach into corporate strategy.