The introduction meeting for the “Countries initiative for Turkey” project held with the cooperation of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and Joachim Herz Foundation took place at the German Embassy in Ankara.  Following introductory remarks, President Nihat Berker spoke on “Academic Processes, Knowledge, Enlightenment and Fellowship: Progress between Germany and Turkey.” 

President Nihat Berker had been granted the Humboldt Research Prize, one of the world’s most prestigious scientific awards, by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in 2007.

Subsequently, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences’ Biological Sciences and Bioengineering faculty member İsmail Çakmak was awarded the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s award for lifelong contribution to science, the Georg Forster Research Prize. Çakmak will receive his prize at the annual meeting of the Humboldt Foundation in Berlin between June 3 and 5, 2014.

                                                                          İsmail Çakmak

Number of cooperating universities multiplied by 4 in the last 4 years

Speaking at the meeting, German Ambassador Eberhard Pohl remarked on the long-established scientific cooperation between Turkey and Germany, reminding listeners that a number of German scientists sought shelter in Turkey during the first years of the Turkish Republic and the rule of national socialism in Germany.

Pohl said that the cooperation between Germany and Turkey in science and university education continued to receive great interest, mentioning the consistent increase in educational exchange projects for the last 20 years.  Pohl noted that the number of students and scientists supported by Germany in Turkey doubled in the last four years, while the number of cooperating universities multiplied by four.

Introducing the “Countries initiative for Turkey” project, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Chairman Helmut Schwarz said that their objective was to further increase cooperation between the two nations.  Emphasizing Turkey’s considerable scientific potential, Schwarz noted that the number of Turkish students was in decline, and that they as a foundation would work to attract more scientists and students.

TÜSİAD and Sabancı University Istanbul Policy Center held a conference titled “Institutionalization of Democracy.”

TÜSİAD and Sabancı University Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) held a joint conference as part of their contributions to improve democratic standards in Turkey, drawing attention once again to the need for democratization and discussing the issue as a whole.

The conference at The Marmara Hotel Taksim on November 27 included discussions on the situation of democracy today, the institutions and rules required for democratic institutionalization and sustainability, and lessons for Turkey.

Introductory remarks by TÜSİAD Chairman Muharrem Yılmaz and IPC Director Professor Fuat Keyman

Muharrem Yılmaz explained that TÜSİAD has been involved in countless reports, opinion surveys and seminars for the past two decades to imrove democratic standards in Turkey while many other NGOs provided remarkable input, and said that everyone needed to keep working on this long and winding path.  Expressing the overall disappointment in almost missing the opportunity to have a democratic and civilian constitution in Turkey for the first time, Yılmaz said, “This impasse is not at all something to be overlooked or underestimated.  Political party representatives claim this to be the work of other party representatives; some even assert that the work for the new constitution should be left to the new parliament that will be formed after the elections in 18 months.  This brings to question the sincerity and honesty of steps to be taken for democratization.”

Fuat Keyman said that, despite all the change, Turkey still had low marks in the democracy scorecard, arguing that transformation could not be matched to democracy, and that democracy could not be reinforced.  Discussing the new constitution, Keyman argued that checks and balances was a great opportunity in the institutionalization and progress of democracy.  Explaining that nongovernmental organizations including TÜSİAD, IPC, TEPAV and many others as well as universities took the new constitution very seriously, doing their part to come up with recommendations, Keyman continued, “While we are in support of creating a new constitution, the commission actually tasked with it is on the verge of dissolution.  No one deserves to be ruled with the 1982 Constitution that is the work of a junta.  Therefore, if there are issues in the Constitution, the institutionalization of democracy becomes paramount.  We will continue our work as civil society organizations.”

Speaking in the plenary session was Dr. Thomas Markert, Director and Secretary General of the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional law.

Thomas Markert said that the establishment of a stable democratic system was a marathon rather than a sprint, and that non-EU countries had much more work to do.  Referring to Turkey’s economic achievement, Markert said, "In terms of economy, Turkey is one of the most successful countries not just in Europe, but around the world.  The Turkish government has been blessed with high confidence for a long time.  A large middle class appeared and expectations in the society soared.”  Saying that Turkish democracy had a longer history than those in Eastern or Central Europe, Markert continued: "The supervision of military and the bureaucratic elite has been brought to an end and this is good overall, but there is a risk: There is little or no control on the power of the state.  This leads to a situation where the winner takes it all.  For example, the transformation of a park is a matter at municipal level.  In Turkey, this was a national issue.  If government activity is to be more efficient, responsibilities should be separared and some things should be left to local administrations.”

Dr. Markert’s lecture was followed by a panel discussion moderated by TÜSİAD Vice President and Chairman of the Commission for Parliamentary Affairs and Political Reform.  Speakers in the panel discussion were Istanbul Bilgi University faculty Professor Sibel İnceoğlu and Atılım University faculty Professor Levent Köker.

Turkey’s climate change leaders announced, CDP Turkey 2013 Climate Change Report revealed

Implemented by the Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum with the sponsorship of Akbank and reporting support of EY (Ernst & Young) Turkey, the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) Turkey revealed its 2013 report on Tuesday, November 26, 2013.  The event included a speech by Coca-Cola VP of Environment and Water Resources Jeff Seabright, and the presentation of CDP Turkey Climate Change Leaders awards.

CDP Turkey is being implemented since 2010 by the Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum with the sponsorship of Akbank and reporting support of EY Turkey.  The 2013 report of the project was revealed in an event at the Sabancı Museum – the Seed on Tuesday, November 26, 2013.  As a platform for companies to disclose their climate change strategies to international corporate investors, CDP is considered the world’s most prestigious and comprehensive environmental initiative.

The CDP Turkey 2013 Report is an analysis of responses given by Turkish companies to the CDP and a summary of climate change-related trends in Turkey.  With forewords by United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Chairman Daviv Pitt-Watson, CDP CEO Paul Simpson, and Akbank President Suzan Sabancı Dinçer, the CDP Turkey 2013 Report received positive responses from 28 companies, which is an improvement of 65% compared to the 2012 figure of 17. 

The CDP Turkey 2013 Report event began with the introductory remarks of Cenk Göksan, President of Investor Relations and Sustainability, Akbank.  This was followed with the keynote by Coca-Cola VP of Environment and Water Resources, Jeff Seabright.  After further speeches by CDP Vice President Sue Howells and Director of Innovation and Sustainability Manuel Villen of OHL, one of the world’s leading construction companies, Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum and CDP Turkey Director Melsa Ararat presented the findings of the CDP Turkey 2013 Climate Change Report.  Speakers of the CDP Turkey 2013 Climate Change Leaders Awards Ceremony were EY Turkey Climate Change and Sustainability Services Partner Zeynep Okuyan and Sabancı University Vice President Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz.

CDP Turkey 2013 Climate Change Leaders received awards in Transparency and Performance

The event concluded with the CDP Turkey 2013 Climate Change Leaders Awards Ceremony, where climate change leaders, chosen among companies responding to CDP from Turkey that were rated by EY Turkey in accordance with the international rating criteria of CDP, were presented their awards.

CDP Turkey 2013 Climate Change Leaders Awards in Transparency were received by Coca-Cola İçecek, Duran Doğan Basım Ambalaj, Türkiye Sınai Kalkınma Bankası and Türk Telekomünikasyon.  Awards were presented by EY Turkey Climate Change and Sustainability Services Partner Zeynep Okuyan. 

CDP Turkey 2013 Climate Change Leaders Awards in Performance were received by Akbank, Arçelik, Coca-Cola İçecek, TAV Havalimanları Holding, Türkiye Sınai Kalkınma Bankası, Vestel Beyaz Eşya and Zorlu Enerji Elektrik Üretimi.  Awards were presented by Sabancı University Vice President Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz. 

Spring Term Applications to Engineering&Natural Sciences Grad. Programs
By Student Resources  |  06 November 2013

Semiha Es - The Women Photographers International Symposium, in commemoration of Semiha Es, Turkey’s first woman travel and war photographer, organized in cooperation with the Women’s Museum Istanbul, the Gender and Women’s Studies Forum at Sabancı University, and Koç University’s Center for Gender Studies (KOÇ-KAM) will be held in Istanbul  on 28-30 November, 2013.  

Simultaneously with the Semiha Es - The Women Photographers International Symposium, a photography exhibition, “Second Eye: Women Photographers from Turkey” is also take place and  will open on November  29, 2013 in Sismanoglio Megaro, the exhibition venue of the Greek Consulate on Istiklal Street.

‘Graphene’ and ‘Human Brain’ Flagships, two of the world’s most ambitions projects, have been officially launched.  Sabancı University will implement these projects in Turkey.

Sabancı University is the only Turkish partner of two of the world’s most ambitious research projects designed to achieve breakthrough innovations in modern science. European Future Emerging Technologies (FET) Flagships Human Brain Project (HBP) and Graphene Project, with estimated budgets of 1.2 billion Euros each, have been officially launched.

The Human Brain and Graphene Projects were chosen by the European Commission as Future Emerging Technologies (FET) Flagship Projects this January within the scope of the EU 7th Framework Program ICT (Information and Communication Technologies).  The projects were officially launched in Switzerland and Sweden, respectively, with a meeting of project partners between October 7 and 11, 2013.

The European Commission will contribute 54 million Euros to the ramp-up phase of the projects between October 1, 2013 and March 31, 2016.  The projects will enter their second phases on April 1, 2016.

The Turkish leg of the projects will be implemented at the Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM).

Human Brain Project – HBP

With more than 130 research institutions from Europe and around the world on board and hundreds of scientists in a myriad of fields participating, the Human Brain Project is the most ambitious neuroscience project ever launched. Its goal is to develop methods that will enable a deep understanding of how the human brain operates. The knowledge gained will be a key element in developing new medical and information technologies. On Monday, October 7, 2013, the project partners met at EPFL (Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne), the coordinating institution. Over the course of a week, neuroscientists, doctors, computer scientists and roboticists will fine-tune the project’s details. Six months after its selection by the EU as one of its FET Flagships, this project of unprecedented complexity, with an estimated budget of €1.2 billion, has now been set in motion. 

Six platforms to move the project forward 

The Human Brain Project’s initial mission is to launch its six research platforms, each composed of technological tools and methods that ensure that the project’s objectives will be met. These platforms are: neuroinformatics, brain simulation, high-performance computing, medical informatics, neuromorphic computing and neurorobotics. 

Over the next 30 months scientists will set up and test the platforms. Then, starting in 2016, the platforms will be ready to use by Human Brain Project scientists as well as researchers from around the world. These resources – simulations, high-performance computing, neuromorphic hardware, databases – will be available on a competitive basis, in a manner similar to that of other major research infrastructures, such as the large telescopes used in astronomy. 

Neuroscience, medicine and technology: the Human Brain project’s goals 

In the field of neuroscience, the researchers will have to manage an enormous amount of data – in particular the data that are published in thousands of scientific articles every year. The mission of the neuroinformatics platform will be to extract the maximum amount of information possible from these sources and integrate it into a cartography that encompasses all the brain’s organizational levels, from the individual cell all the way up to the entire brain. This information will be used to develop the brain simulation platform. The high-performance computing platform must ultimately be capable of deploying the necessary computational power to bring these ambitious developments about. 

Medical doctors associated with the project are charged with developing the best possible methods for diagnosing neurological disease. Being able to detect and identify pathologies very rapidly will allow patients to benefit from personalized treatment before potentially irreversible neurological damage occurs. This is the mission of the medical informatics platform, which will initially concentrate on compiling and analyzing anonymized clinical data from hundreds of patients in collaboration with hospitals and pharmaceutical companies. 

Finally, the Human Brain Project includes an important component whose objective is to create neuro-inspired technologies. Microchips are being developed that imitate how networks of neurons function – the idea being to take advantage of the extraordinary learning ability and resiliency of neuronal circuits in a variety of specific applications. This is the mission of the neuromorphic computing platform. The neurorobotics platform will focus on integrating neural network simulations into robots (initially virtual ones), who will benefit from new aptitudes such as learning ability or resiliency. 

Next milestone: 2016 

The platforms will be set up as part of a global, coherent project. For example, the scientists will depend on the brain simulation not only to better understand the mechanisms of neurological disease and identify new therapeutic targets, but also to update functional principles or even accelerate the development of neuro-inspired technologies. At the same time, these same technologies could contribute to meeting the simulation’s computational requirements. The success of the Human Brain Project depends in large part on the dynamics of exchange that will occur between its six platforms. 

The scientists involved in the Human Brain Project now have two and a half years to finalize the research platforms. Once these are established, researchers will have at their disposal the infrastructures, tools and methods they need in order to meet their objectives. Now, nine months after its selection as a EU Flagship, the project is officially on its way.

Sabancı University is the Turkish implementer of the Human Brain Project

                                        Prof. Yaşar Gürbüz ve Dr. Volkan Özgüz 

A team of technical experts led by Sabancı University faculty Dr. Volkan Özgüz and Professor Yaşar Gürbüz will develop neurosimulational computation architectures, ultra-low voltage compute circuits and hardware platforms to enable researchers to develop new informatics systems based on the architecture and circuitry of the human brain.

With this project, Sabancı University will create a platform in Turkey to understand the human brain and provide direction to medical and informatics research, mediating collaboration between new participants and European partners of the project, and bring international recognition to Turkey.  The projects will enable Turkish researchers to become involved in leading- edge research that will shape the 21st century, and give them the opportunity to work alongside Nobel laureates that are members of institutional project partners.

Graphene Project

The Graphene Flagship – one of Europe’s first ten-year, 1 billion Euro flagships in Future and Emerging Technologies – was launched during a ceremony in Gothenburg on Friday, October 11, 2013. 

Graphene Flagship was selected as one of Europe’s first technology flagships by the European Commission in January 2013. The mission is to take graphene and related layered materials from academic laboratories to society, revolutionize multiple industries and create economic growth and new jobs in Europe.  

Graphene has been a subject to a scientific explosion since the groundbreaking experiments on the novel material less than ten years ago, recognized by the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010 to Professor Andre Geim and

Professor Konstantin Novoselov, at The University of Manchester. Graphene’s unique combination of superior

properties makes it a credible starting point for new disruptive technologies in a wide range of fields.

The Graphene Flagship consortium is composed of 75 academy and industry partners from 17 European countries.

Unexpected science in a pencil line: the revolutionary material that is Graphene 

Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms, may be the most amazing and versatile substance available to mankind. It poses a unique set of properties, each of which seems to be superior to its rivals. This material is the first 2D atomic crystal ever known to us; the thinnest object ever obtained; the world’s strongest material (stronger than diamond, yet lightweight and flexible); its charge carriers are massless; it is extremely electrically and thermally conductive; very elastic; and impermeable to any molecules.

It is expected that the applications of graphene for life science and health care can potentially overshadow even those in electronics. Graphene has a number of properties which make it potentially promising for bioapplications.

Its large surface area, chemical purity and the possibility of easy functionalization provide opportunities for drug

delivery. Its unique mechanical properties suggest tissue engineering applications and regenerative medicine.

Its combination of ultimate thinness, conductivity and strength make it an ideal support for imaging biomolecules in transmission electron microscopy.  Also, chemically functionalized graphene might lead to fast and ultrasensitive measurement devices, capable of detecting a range of biological molecules including glucose, cholesterol, hemoglobin and DNA.

This miraculous material, together with the Graphene Flagship, is expected to take graphene and related layered materials from academic laboratories to society, and revolutionize multiple industries.

Sabancı University to implement the Graphene Flagship in Turkey

                      Doç. Dr. Selmiye Alkan Gürsel ve Dr. Burcu Saner Okan

A team that includes Sabancı University faculty Associate Professor Selmiye Alkan Gürsel as implementer and Dr. Burcu Saner Okan as specialist will be a part of the energy applications job pack of Graphene.  Taking advantage of availability of various forms of graphene within the Flagship, the objective of the “Energy” group is to assess their interest in various daily life energy applications. By focusing on specific functions involved in applications including photovoltaics, energy storage, fuel cells and hydrogen storage, the Energy group intends to connect the fundamental and technological graphene expertise to the designers and developers of energy conversion and storage devices and explores novel research routes for future graphene-based material which could better match the energy application needs.

The Sabancı University team will focus on the use of graphene in fuel cells.  Sabancı University is the only consortium member on fuel cell applications of graphene in the first phase.  The outcomes of the project will contribute greatly to the scientific and technological development of Turkey in this area.  The project will augment Sabancı University’s present efforts in graphene research, create a center of competence and help to create new partnerships.  Sabancı University will also mediate between graphene research consortia in Turkey and the European partners of the project, enabling Turkey to have international presence in graphene studies.

Among the promising industrial applications of graphene are low-latency electronic and optical equipment, functional light components and advanced batteries.  Some new products that may be possible through graphene technologies include flexible and robust consumer electronics such electronic paper and bendable personal communication devices, and high-efficiency aircraft.  In the long run, graphene is expected to pave the way for new computing paradigms and breakthrough medical applications like artificial retinas.

Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum and Independent Woman Directors Project Director Melsa Ararat spoke on the project at the launch meeting of the European Professional Women’s Network on Wednesday, November 20, 2013.

Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum and Independent Woman Directors Project Director Melsa Ararat spoke on the “Independent Woman Directors Project” implemented with financial support by the Consulate of Sweden and strategic support of Egon Zehnder International’s Turkey office at the launch meeting of the European Professional Women’s Network.

The launch meeting was held at The Sofa Hotel with the attendance of around 200 woman directors.  Melsa Ararat explained the project and spoke about the “Independent Woman Directors Turkey 2013” report.

“Independent Woman Directors Project Report”

According to the results of the survey, which included all Istanbul Stock Exchange companies, the ratio of woman directors on boards did not change much from the 2012 value of 11.5%, and was 11.7% for 2013.  According to the report, reaching 25% representation of women on boards will take 44 years at this rate.

The report suggests that while there was no significant change in the ratio of woman directors, the ratio of independent directors in ISE companies increased by 23.5% during the same period and became %7.7, while the ratio of women among independent directors increased from 7.7% to 8.8%.  The fact that the ratio of women among independent directors increased while the total number of woman directors remained unchanged points out the effectiveness of the project.

The report warns that 44.5% of ISE companies have no women directors at all.  Although the situation is improving, the change from last year is only 4.9%.  At this rate, it will take 13 years for all ISE companies to have at least one woman on their boards.  Among the companies that have woman directors, 66% have only one woman sitting on the board, while only 0.5% of companies have three woman directors.  This is far removed from the threshold of three female members, which international surveys suggest is the minimum for women to be effective on a board of directors.

Among the members of board of directors committees, only 8.5% are women.  Audit committees are 8.2% versus 91.8% men, and corporate governance committees have 7% female members with 93% being men.

A comparison of ISE companies in 2008 and 2013 shows that the ratio of woman directors increased from 8.63% to a mere 11.25% from 2008 to 2013. 

The objective is to have all boards strengthened by women

The “Independent Woman Directors Project” implemented by the Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum with financial support by the Consulate of Sweden and strategic support of Egon Zehnder International’s Turkey office aims to improve the position of women on boards of directors with a view towards making boards more efficient.  As a founding partner of the “Global Board Ready Women” initiative, the project makes regular updates to a database of board-ready women in Turkey, and recommends candidates to companies that wish to appoint a woman to their boards of directors.

Specific targets of the project by the end of the general assemblies for the 2015 financial year include 25% women on the boards of ISE companies, all companies having at least one woman director, and the strengthening of boards by women.

Melis Bilen is a 2008 graduate of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences’ Manufacturing Systems Engineering program who has made a name for herself in the music scene.  She recently submitted songs for Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest.  We spoke to Melis about what it’s like to be a musician in Turkey, and her Eurovision journey.

We have been hearing about you in the music scene for years.  What have you been doing recently?

I published 6 promo albums so far.  I have 120 or so songs on the internet.  I don’t have a studio contract.  I don’t sell my albums.  I give them out during my performances.  I perform at events like company launches, openings, festivals and conferences.  I also compose and perform product, launch event and radio jingles.

We were proud to hear that you are one of the candidates to represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest.  Can you tell us more? 

Switzerland announced that foreign musicians were welcome to submit songs for representing the country in Eurovision.  I submitted five songs.  This was widely covered by the Swiss press.  Switzerland’s latest Eurovision win was 25 years ago with the song of another Turkish composer (Atilla Şereftuğ) that was performed by Celine Dion.  They had no wins after that, and they were unable to advance to the finals for the last two years; I think that is why they chose to do this, and it makes sense.

Why did you submit five songs?

To appeal to different musical styles.  I made five contemporary songs in Electronic RnB, Dubstep, Pop-rock, Latin-pop and RnB-hiphop.  These are upbeat, catchy songs that are appropriate to the Eurovision sound and are three minutes each, because that is how long Eurovision songs must be.  So there are alternatives for a variety of styles.

What will be next?

Nine finalists were chosen with online voting until November 18.  The finalists will perform before a jury in Switzerland on November 30.

Can you name a song that is the most special for you so we can post it here?

Many of my songs are very special because all have a story behind them.

But if I were to name one, it would be this live, one-shot acoustic recording with a single instrument.  This songs fills me with peace.  I hope you feel the same way.

What would be your advice for fellow Sabancı students whose paths would cross with music?

This is a very difficult and complex question.  I wish there was a reasonably convenient way to do this in Turkey.

I will begin with the unpleasant truth, and then give some advice.

Music isn’t easy in Turkey.  Most frequently, you need to take a few demo recordings to studios to see if they are interested, and they are mostly reluctant to invest in young musicians because of financial difficulties.  They will likely reject you, or not see you at all.  Or they could propose a deal where you pay for your album and videos, and if the album “catches on” as they say, you will be given a share of the profits.  There is no catching on.  You either have to pay a lot of money or know a lot of people to have your videos played on a number of TV stations.

You could make the best song in the world, but if it isn’t played on TV 50 times a day to hammer it into your head, that song is dead.  Even if people like a song, they download it for free instead of buying an album.  Performers make money not by selling albums or paid songs, but by stage performances.  In order to get a performing contract, you need to have made a name for yourself.  That means you need to have a good media agent who can promote you through the media, or you need to convince your studio to use their media connections for you, if they have any.  Some press agents ask for a lot of money, and then fail to put you on TV shows that they promised.  Producers prefer to milk the most out of singers who are already known rather than to invest in unknown people.  Those people –or people who pay a lot of money for it– get to appear on TV shows and have their videos played.  Producers make more money this way.  And you as an enthusiastic and talented singer wait forever for your debut.

Besides, nothing other than the popular has an audience in Turkey, which is the bitter truth.  Even the greatest song will fail to catch on if not made famous in the press and played over and over on music stations.  On the other hand, the cheesiest tune will get stuck in people’s minds as it is played virtually everywhere you go, and then it becomes a hit.  Being a hit or a flop in Turkey has nothing to do with the quality of the song, and everything to do with its promotion.

My advice is basically to do this job abroad.  It will not be any easier, but at least they will not drag you down there; they will give talent a chance.  If you are seeking to do it here, you will need to create your own audience.  You must be willing to pay for your songs and videos yourself, share your creations with your followers, and try to secure contracts in the future.  This is a long and difficult road.  But it is a clean one.

So if you are going to start the music business, I wish you good luck and godspeed!

Sabancı University Student Association Cochair Çağlar Genç: "We must transition to a student-centric education system for a better Turkish future.”

Sabancı University Student Association Cochair Çağlar Genç took part in the Youth Summit organized by the Boğaziçi University Student Body, speaking in a panel discussion titled “The Position of the Student in Higher Education in Turkey” moderated by Sabancı University Emeritus Professor Üstün Ergüder.

Çağlar Genç spoke on the shortcomings of the central admission exam and choice submission in advance, arguing that students should be admitted to schools and not major programs.  Çağlar argued in favor of an interdisciplinary education system for maximum student achievement and satisfaction, and discussed the Sabancı University system by association.  Çağlar gave an overview of the education system at Sabancı University, emphasizing that the transition to a student-centric system would be more promising for the future of Turkey.  Çağlar's presentation received wide interest.

Outstanding achievement by Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences student Mehmet Çağrı Çalpur in the TÜBİTAK 1512 Program

Outstanding achievement by Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences student Mehmet Çağrı Çalpur in the TÜBİTAK 1512 Program

Sabancı University Computer Science and Engineering doctorate student Mehmet Çağrı Çalpur successfully completed the second phase of the TÜBİTAK 1512 Entrepreneurship Support Program in Stages 2013, and was entitled to a capital grant of TL 100,000.

Held for the second time this year, the TÜBİTAK program received 1208 submissions for the first phase.  Advancing to the second stage were 441 business ideas, 377 of which were assessed and 140 were chosen for support.

Computer Science and Engineering doctorate student Mehmet Çağrı Çalpur's chosen business plan for “Systematic Testing of Multi-Threaded Software Systems” was developed as a result of the master’s thesis completed within SUSOFT – Software Engineering Research Group led by Assistant Professor Cemal Yılmaz of Sabancı University.  STA Technologies was founded as a startup by Mehmet Çağrı Çalpur, Assistant Professor Cemal Yılmaz and Inovent A.Ş., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sabancı University and the only technology commercialization company in Turkey, at the Gebze Organized Industrial Zone Technology Park according to this business plan, and is currently engaged in research for Test Automation Tools for Software Systems.