An article about Li-ion batteries written by Alp Yürüm and Begüm Yarar Kaplan, researchers at Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), and Selmiye Alkan Gürsel, part-time researcher at SUNUM, member and vice-dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, and Vahid Charkhesht, doctoral student at Sabancı University, was featured on the cover of ACS Applied Energy Materials Journal in December 2021.

In the framework of the study covered by the article, freestanding, electronically conductive, electrospun Li-ion anodes were developed. Thanks to the structure that was developed, electrodes capable of competing with commercial lithium-titanate (LTO) anodes were manufactured.

You can access the article from this link.

Being one of the main items on the world’s and Turkey’s agenda, and having great importance for energy dynamics and climate, electric vehicles were discussed at the conference and the panel entitled ‘Electric Vehicles Outlook - Global & Turkey’ organized in Istanbul by Sabancı University Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate (IICEC). During the conference, the role of electric vehicles in the future of energy and climate was discussed and forecasts about development perspective of electric vehicles were shared. In addition, the launch presentation of IICEC’s “Turkey Electric Vehicles Outlook” report was made.

Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), said the following: “There is a rapid development in the field of electric vehicles globally. In 2018-2019, two of every hundred cars sold in the world were electric cars. Today, we can see that the rate has neared 10 percent from the previous 2 percent. One of the most important items in the manufacturing of electric vehicles is battery. A growth of up to 10 times the current capacity is expected by 2030”.

Gürcan Karakaş, CEO of TOGG, said the following: “The rules of the game are changing in the world. The rules are changing particularly in the triangle of energy sector, automobile world and technology world. As TOGG, we have a holistic approach to the market, because we are here to do more than manufacturing a car. In the first quarter of 2023, we are starting our mass production and market launch”.

Haydar Yenigün, Chairman of the Automotive Manufacturers Association (OSD), said the following: “The Green Deal gives us clear guidance and countries commit to it. As a matter of fact, most of the members of OSD will have switched nearly all of their production to electric vehicles by 2030. Because automotive industry in Turkey exports more than 85% of its production to Europe; first automobiles will go electric, and they will be followed by light commercial vehicles, and then trucks and buses will come”.

Bora Şekip Güray, Director of IICEC, highlighted that, according to the High Case Scenario in the Turkey Electric Vehicles Outlook report, in case electric vehicles reach a share of above one third in total sales and that total number of electric vehicles reach 2 million by 2030, Turkey could achieve savings of 2.5 billion USD on its oil bill.

After the speeches from the lectern, a high-level panel was held which was moderated by Mehmet Erdem Yaşar, Associate Director for Energy at EBRD Turkey. Speakers of the panel were Sinan Ak, CEO of Zorlu Enerji, Ahmet Erdem, Country Chairman of Shell Turkey, Özge Özden, General Secretary of the Association of Electricity Distribution System Operators (ELDER), Özgür Özel, General Manager of SIRO, and Murat Pınar, Chairman of EUROGIA and of Eşarj.

SPEECHES FROM THE LECTERN

The role and development perspectives of electric vehicles in the future of energy and climate were discussed at the conference and the panel entitled ‘Electric Vehicles Outlook - Global & Turkey’ organized in Istanbul by Sabancı University Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate (IICEC). Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Gürcan Karakaş, CEO of TOGG, and Haydar Yenigün, Chairman of the Automotive Manufacturers Association (OSD) were the speakers at the conference. In the conference, Bora Şekip Güray, Director of IICEC, made the launch presentation of the IICEC “Turkey Electric Vehicles Outlook” report.

Electric vehicles develop rapidly

Speaking at the opening session of the online conference, Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), emphasized that Sabancı University Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate (IICEC) achieved a very important project in such a short time, in less than a year. Making a detailed presentation during his speech about energy and climate, new energy technologies, global outlook of electric vehicles, and global energy markets, Fatih Birol said the following in summary:  

“The main way to solve climate problem is to make the energy sector clean. Important steps are being taken for this. The most important step was finalized in Glasgow last month. All the countries made zero emission commitments in the years to come. A new energy system is at the horizon. A new energy system is being established. Renewable energy, hydrogen, electric vehicles, digitalization, nuclear… Important steps are being taken in all these fields.  

There is a rapid development in the field of electric vehicles globally. In 2018-2019, two of every hundred cars sold in the world were electric cars. Today, we can see that the rate has neared 10 per cent from the previous 2 per cent. From my conversations with the US Secretary of Energy, the US Secretary of Transportation, and all the big companies’ CEOs who were present there, it is seen that all these transformations are to come gradually. A couple of weeks ago, I had a meeting with the CEOs of the top 20 car manufacturers in the world, and 18 of them said electric vehicles would be their main field of production by 2030.

The most important subject is the Battery Technology

One of the most important items in the manufacturing of electric vehicles is battery. A growth of up to 10 times the current capacity is expected by 2030. There is a growth particularly with lithium-ion batteries all over the globe, from Europe to Asia, and America.

Critical elements are needed for manufacturing of batteries. Lithium is one of them. Others include magnesium and cobalt, which can be found in many parts of the world. However, three fourth of these elements are concentrated in only a few countries. It is not possible to consider this fact independently from the security of energy supply. Dependence on critical minerals is a serious problem and it is not only where minerals are but also where they are processed that matters. Currently, 90% of refinery capacity is in one country, China. Many countries are negotiating with each other to establish a new system of security of critical energy supply under the leadership of the International Energy Agency.

Looking at the past, one can see that no new energy technology could have been made possible without the support of governments. In the energy sector, especially in the infancy period, government support is needed for new technology projects. The story of Tesla, a company that everybody regards with admiration, started after the financial crisis in 2008-2009 by receiving huge support from the relief fund. This initial support at the amount of around half a billion dollars played a very big role in Tesla’s success today.

If countries fulfill their climate change commitments, lithium demand will grow 7 times in 10 years. This is a huge increase and prices will go up. Many countries have critical mineral reserves, but they have not worked on it so far. Countries like Canada, the US, Europe, Australia are trying to issue new laws to fully exploit lithium or nickel minerals. If the second economic relief law is issued in the US, there will be a very rapid increase in the demand for electric vehicles, which may create an upwards pressure on lithium and other critical minerals. There may be some synchronization problems between new supply policies, manufacturing policies and the demand. The demand many be a little higher than expected, which may push up the prices. It is possible to see such a risk for the moment”.

“The rules of the game are changing in the world”

Gürcan Karakaş, CEO of TOGG, said the following about the world’s perspective on electric vehicles and what TOGG has been doing:

“The rules are changing particularly in the triangle of energy sector, automobile world and technology world. In terms of technology, some concerns and problems that relate to electric vehicles have been solved. Costs are decreasing rapidly; the problem of range has been solved. Thanks to quick charging, we can easily charge a battery by 80% in less than half an hour. Meanwhile, sales volume and profitability of the sector continue to grow. Looking at 2035, there is a room for profitability, growing with data-based business models born alongside the new generation vehicles. If we do not start to develop products today for the 40% zone, and do not get prepared to take our place there, it means we will be in trouble in terms of profitability. The state has a big role to play in this sense. On a global scale, we think it is China that woke up the first to follow this direction. In our country we move fast with the support of our state and our vision of transition to electrification.

As TOGG, we have a holistic approach to the market, because we are here to do more than manufacturing a car. For this, we need to design the vehicle both around a battery and as a smart vehicle. We do this in the framework of new generation electrical and electronics architecture. In the future, it is not the horse power but the software power that will make a difference. The world of the future is a world with computers at the center. This is how the future is being shaped. We divided central computers into four because we are racing against the clock. In the first quarter of 2023, we are starting our mass production and market launch. In 2026-2027, we will have fully designed and industrialized our central computer. At this point, it is also important to be environmentally sensitive. To comply with the environmental requirements and promote our environmental awareness, we are establishing in Gemlik the cleanest facility in our country, even in Europe, and most probably in the world, although I am not sure about China. Our works are continuing. In January, we will make our global launch in Las Vegas”.

The Green Deal gives us clear guidance

Haydar Yenigün, Chairman of the Automotive Manufacturers Association (OSD), pointed out that the Green Deal provided clear guidance to the automotive sector, which went through a challenging time due to the pandemic conditions, adding that interesting developments would occur in the sector.

Highlighting that automotive sector generated more than 5% of Turkey’s GDP, Haydar Yenigün said the following:

“There is a capacity of around 2 million vehicles and we expect it to go up to 2.5 million in the 1 to 2 years to come. 85% of our 2 million capacity is exported. We generate a foreign trade surplus of 6.8 billion USD. To sustain this, R&D investments are indispensable. The R&D investments that the state has been supporting for the last 10 years have been clearly welcomed by the sector. There are more than 4 thousand employees in 157 R&D centers. Where do all these efforts place Turkey?  In Europe, we rank 6^th in automobile manufacturing, 2^nd in commercial vehicle manufacturing, so we rank 4^th in total automotive manufacturing in Europe.

When we look at electric vehicles, there are two pictures that we can see. Today, clients impose environmental protection as a priority requirement to us, manufacturers. In addition, they demand connected vehicles, autonomous vehicles, and vehicles that can be pooled, so they demand electric vehicles.

By 2030, all these demands must be met. Because the Green Deal gives us clear guidance and countries commit to it. As a matter of fact, most of the members of OSD will have switched nearly all of their production to electric vehicles by 2030. Because automotive industry in Turkey exports more than 85% of its production to Europe. This is indispensable for us. First automobiles will go electric, and they will be followed by light commercial vehicles, and then trucks and buses will come. For the latter, things will need to be worked on a little more, they will have to wait for some more hydrogen enter the system. All in all, their carbon-neutrality target will be reached around 2040.

As the automotive sector, we will have realized this much earlier than the target date for Turkey. What directly relates to us is the charging stations. In this field, there is a technological development close to the one in the automotive industry.

We need digital technologies in this respect. In addition, you cannot control this circular economy without blockchain. I mean, when you manufacture a battery and ensure that you follow it up, then you can ensure that circular economy works correctly.

For all these developments to happen, legislation should be changed, we should have a transition plan, there should be incentive mechanisms, and the taxation policy in Turkey should be restructured. All these elements should be seriously managed by lawmakers”.

“Turkey can save up to 2.5 billion USD by 2030”

Bora Şekip Güray, Director of IICEC, who presented the “Turkey Electric Vehicles Outlook” report prepared by IICEC as a result of a long research, highlighted that the report included an analytical approach to today and tomorrow of electric vehicles, thus being the first-of-its-kind in Turkey. Güray continued as follows:

“As IICEC, we took the modelling infrastructure and scenario-based analyses that we developed in this report, in which we illustrated quantitatively the remarkable contributions of the growth of electric vehicles to Turkey’s energy balance and environmental performance. According to the High Case Scenario in the Turkey Electric Vehicles Outlook report, in case electric vehicles reach a share of above one third in total sales and that total number of electric vehicles reach 2 million by 2030, Turkey could achieve savings of 2.5 billion USD on its oil bill upon oil’s substitution by electricity. Such savings in oil consumption secured by clean energy will decrease the risks related to price fluctuations of oil, of which Turkey is an importer, and support Turkey’s targets to strengthen security of energy supply. In this scenario, road transportation emissions, which rank the second in Turkey’s emissions inventory, will start to decrease before 2030, and contribute to a future of energy with net-zero emission and clean energy transition perspective.
With this report, which examines the best practices in the world, global and regional trends, Turkey’s high growth potential and opportunities in this field with an analytical approach, we present 5 concrete suggestions to the stakeholders of the e-mobility ecosystem.”

5 concrete suggestions

1. On the axis of 2053 net-zero target and clean energy transition, determine concrete, realistic and attainable policy targets, and implement guiding and supportive mechanisms;
2. Secure the sustainability of this transition through development of green energy sources;
3. Develop a holistic e-mobility ecosystem based on the environment and technology for the purpose of providing maximum social benefit through collaboration and coordination between public sector, private sector and academia;
4. Accelerate R&D and domestic production regarding technologies with high value proposition such as digitalization, smart systems, energy storage;
5. Strengthen individual and corporate entrepreneurship ecosystem and human resources potential in a way to support taking a position as a regional and global actor.

Güray emphasized that the report also included important messages, such as taking technology-focused opportunities for competitive transition of the automotive industry, which is very critical for Turkey, planning and operating charging stations and electricity distribution networks as efficiently as possible, and extending innovative financing and new generation business models.

THE PANEL

Highlighting the importance of electric vehicles for energy dynamics and climate, the panel participants said the following:

“As Shell, we aim to establish 250 thousand charging points by 2025, and 5 million by 2050”

Ahmet Erdem, Country Chairman of Shell Turkey:

“One of the most important events in 2021 was undoubtedly the approval of the Paris Agreement by the Turkish Parliament, which also drew the roadmap of the green deal text. The expectation for the next year is to prepare the studies that will determine the roadmap for the net-zero carbon journey to 2053. As a company that has been working on this issue since mid-1990s, we clearly support the net-zero carbon target by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement. While doing so, we have plans to decrease by half our carbon emissions resulting from our own operations, the energy sources that we import and the use of the energy that we offer to consumers by 2030, and make it zero by 2050. With regards to new products, we already started to work in the fields such as hydrogen and bio fuels. Shell has plans to transform 6 of its 15 big refineries into energy parks. In this context, we will decrease our refined product manufacturing by 55% by 2025. One of the biggest investments of Shell is about renewable energy sources. There are vehicle charging facilities that we install at our own stations. As Shell, we carry out many partnerships and procurement operations. We aim to establish 250 thousand charging points by 2025, and 5 million by 2050”.

“I think that investments will be accelerated if regulatory steps are completed”

Sinan Ak, CEO of Zorlu Enerji:

“Under the current circumstances, to travel with petrol vehicles, you go to a petrol station, buy petrol in 5 to 10 minutes, and you drive on. But when you drive an electric vehicle, you will be charging your vehicle at home, at your workplace or shopping malls. If you want to electrify the automotive sector, considerable infrastructure investments will be needed, especially in the premises owned by municipalities. This seems to be the most challenging part of the process. As far as we can see, municipalities are trying to take some steps but they are very far from where they should be. They should change their mindset. What is important at this point is that the regulatory framework has not been completed yet. It will be useful if all the stakeholders participate in this process. I think that investments will be accelerated if regulatory steps are completed. Range of electric cars is 500 kilometers, but considering the speed on the roads, infrastructure works about charging points should be accelerated. We believe the state should have some incentive mechanisms. The most important thing is to incentivize establishment of infrastructure in intercity roads, especially for the periods of intensive circulation”.

“Distribution companies will play an important role”

Özge Özden, General Secretary of the Association of Electricity Distribution System Operators (ELDER):

When we look at the domestic trends, we can see TOGG has investments, companies like Zorlu Group currently produce charging units. Therefore, we should be talking about a multidimensional impact area at the national scale involving industry, technology, employment, and growth. The Economic Reforms Action Plan dated 12 March 2021 includes the government’s target about implementation of electric vehicles charging infrastructure by the end of this year. There is a main goal merging all these trends: equip every corner of Turkey with electric vehicle charging infrastructure. At this point, considering the technological costs and the specific conditions of our country, there are some obstacles to realizing this goal only based on the market dynamics. Due to the production costs, investments seem to have a quite long breakeven period. In addition, there are problems in terms of extension of the EV charging network. I believe electricity distribution companies could play a role to overcome these obstacles”.

“By 2026, we aim to start to manufacture enhanced battery cells in Turkey”

Özgür Özel, General Manager of SiRo:

“As TOGG, we are in contact with the leading battery manufacturers in the world. We had a detailed set of criteria for this matter. One of the criteria is energy density, and the others are cost and logistics. We chose Farasis as it stood out as the best option due to manufacturing in Turkey in addition to other criteria such as warranty conditions, durability and safety. Compared to its competitors, Farasis has a technology that provides an advantage of 15 to 25% in terms of energy density. We have also started discussions for a strategic partnership. Our goal was to manufacture in Turkey and get to the core technology. As a priority, we want to make our production facilities ready in the next year. We want to organize our production in a way to support TOGG’s production plan. We aim to enhance our R&D, grow our team rapidly, and start to manufacture enhanced battery cells in Turkey in 2026. This is not confined to TOGG. There is a window of opportunity with electric vehicles, and there is a window of opportunity with batteries. In summary, we believe we are doing the right thing at the right time. While doing all this, we have an investment plan of 30 billion TL. We estimate this investment will contribute to our country’s GDP by 30 billion EUR and decrease the current account deficit by 10 billion EUR by 2032”.

“We are actually working on a new lifestyle”

Murat Pınar, Chairman of EUROGIA and of Eşarj:

“Referring to electric vehicles, we need to design the technology around the battery, but in general, around the people. Today, we are still talking about the cars for 4 in the American story. When we look at the evolution, we should actually revisit this. Does everyone really want a car for 4 people, or will micro-mobility take the lead? You manufacture vehicles, you focus on people, because they will spend part of their lives in those vehicles. But how about human focus? It is no more only about going from point ‘a’ to point ‘b’. Vehicles have computers in them, you are connected to the internet, which means you remain connected to life. In addition, vehicles are now connected to an active network. In other words, they are like a moving generator and you will be able to use the power in your car when there is a power cut. New requests arise as designs are developed. At the end of the day, we merge all these requests. As a matter of fact, we are all working on a new lifestyle. Of course, if we are to change the lifestyle of the future, we should consult the future generations about it. Therefore, I believe we should consult them, get their answers about how things should be in the future, and get prepared accordingly”.

Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM) is home to manufacturing of borophene, which is a substance made from boron. Manufactured by only a few countries in the world, borophene can now be manufactured at SUNUM.

As the world has become more and more digitalized, long-life batteries are needed to respond to usage needs of electronic devices with the state-of-the-art technology. Therefore, one of the hottest topics in the world’s science agenda is to manufacture batteries that can be rapidly recharged and come with a longer battery life. At this point, the world of science points to borophene as a potential solution. Referred to as a super-material, borophene is manufactured in only a few countries including Turkey.

Mert Umut Özkaynak, SUNUM’s Vice Director in charge of Strategy and Business Development, said the following about the borophene that they manufactured at the laboratory: “Being one of the most precious elements that Turkey has, boron is extremely important. With SUNUM researchers, we thought of a product that we could manufacture by using boron to make an impression on the world markets and we decided to manufacture borophene”.

Pointing out that by 2025, market size of power batteries will reach 106 billion USD, Özkaynak continued: “From this market, we want to grab our share with borophene technologies and decrease Turkey’s foreign dependence in this field. As we advanced our studies, we added different fields such as defense, automotive, composites to the field of energy and we diversified the product”.

Özgür Ekin Felek, SUNUM’s Business Development Specialist highlighted that regarding borophene manufacturing, it was very considerable that Turkey stood at the same level as other countries leading such an important technology.

Özgür Ekin Felek said the following: “We have observed that when we add 3% of borophene into a standard graphite-based battery system, specific capacity increases by 20 to 30%, and that when we add 10% of borophene to a supercapacitor, specific capacity increases by up to 75%. In addition, borophene considerably shortens recharging time while extending discharging time”.

“Urban Mobility in Smart Cities” workshop was held on December 20 in partnership with Sabancı University, Farplas/Farklabs and PWC Turkey on Farklabs’ Maslak campus.

Supported by EIT Urban Mobility (the European Institute of Innovation and Technology Urban Mobility Initiative) and hosted by Farplas/Farklabs, the workshop had 48 participants. In the workshop, Innomotion Urban Mobility Scale-Up project implemented by Sabancı University and Farplas and supported by EIT Urban Mobility Initiative was evaluated. Held for the first time this year, the workshop will be organized once a year within the framework of EIT Regional Scheme (RIS) Hub program, which will be represented by Sabancı University, Farplas/Farklabs and PWC Turkey for a period of 7 years.

The workshop was organized in order to raise awareness about urban mobility, build an ecosystem in Turkey and enhance competency and efficiency through innovative works in the field of urban mobility and 7 different themes were covered during the workshop. Focus areas of the workshop were as follows:

- Shift to active modes of transport,

- Avoid negative health, safety, and environment impacts of urban mobility,

- Improve urban logistics with a focus on last mile distribution,

- Improve public transport service provision,

- Improve the quality of public space,

- Improve traffic flow management,

- Avoid transition barriers.

The participants of the workshop came together to discuss the above-mentioned focus areas and proposed solutions to the existing problems and setbacks in the field of urban mobility in Turkey. In addition, new collaboration and business models were suggested for university, industry, public, and civil society organizations.

The results of the “Entrepreneurial and Innovative University Index - 2021”, prepared under the leadership of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), have been announced by Mustafa Varank, the Minister of Industry and Technology. With a total score of 75.72, Sabancı University has been ranked as the most entrepreneurial and innovative foundation university.

The top ten universities in the "Entrepreneurial and Innovative University Index - 2021" and their scores were: Middle East Technical University (METU) 83.70, Sabancı University 75.72, İstanbul Technical University (ITU) 72.52, İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent University 68.35, Yıldız Technical University 66.97, Koç University 65.50, Gebze Technical University 62.71, Boğaziçi University 62.34, İzmir Institute of Technology 59.74 and Özyeğin University 58.18.

The index includes 23 indicators under four dimensions, namely “Scientific and Technological Research Competency”, “Intellectual Property Pool”, “Collaboration and Interaction” and “Economic and Social Contribution”. Sabancı University was the top performer in the “Intellectual Property Pool” and “Collaboration and Interaction” dimensions. 

The 23 indicators in the ranking are as follows: Number of scientific publications, number of citations, number of projects, amount of project funds, number of awards, number of alumni of doctoral programs, number of national patent certificates, number of national utility model certificates, number of international patent applications, number of international patent certificates, collaboration and interaction dimension, amount of funds of projects with industry collaboration, number of international projects, amount of funds for projects with international cooperation, number of circulations, number of TÜBİTAK Industry PhD Program Students, number of companies with faculty members as shareholders, number of companies with students/alumni as shareholders, and net sales revenues of companies with faculty members as shareholders.

Yusuf Leblebici, President of Sabancı University, said he was very happy to see Sabancı University ranked first among the foundation universities in Turkey in the “Entrepreneurial and Innovative University Index - 2021”. He continued as follows: “As Sabancı University, we are ranked at the top of world university rankings and national and international success indices. We continue to break new ground through the successful work of our faculty members, researchers, alumni and students in addition to our research projects, initiatives, and collaborations with industrial and public organizations. The fact that we have been ranked once again the most entrepreneurial and innovative foundation university according to the Entrepreneurial and Innovative University Index – 2021 is the result of our mission of “creating and developing together”. We are proud to see that our university, which places research in its focus with the strategy of resolving selected global and regional problems and raising individuals towards this goal, has become the most entrepreneurial and innovative foundation university in Turkey”.

You can reach the top 50 universities in the 2021 Entrepreneurial and Innovative University Index from this link: https://www.tubitak.gov.tr/tr/icerik-2021-girisimci-ve-yenilikci-universite-endeksi.

Sabri Sayarı, emeritus faculty member of Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), has been elected as the President of the Turkish Political Science Association. Berk Esen, member of FASS, also sits on the newly established board of the association chaired by Sabri Sayarı.

Sabri Sayarı, emeritus faculty member of Sabancı University FASS, has been elected as the President of the Turkish Political Science Association, which was established to carry out activities for the development of the field political science in Turkey, make it better known in the country, and establish cooperation and flow of information among the academics working in the field of political science. Taking over the presidency of the association from Professor Füsun Türkmen, Chair of the International Relations Department of Galatasaray University, Sabri Sayarı said he would work to promote the association, and make it more visible. Pointing out that as the association, they would continue to attend international conferences, Sayarı added that they would also continue to organize seminars, conferences and meetings in the country.

Known for his research and publications on Turkish politics, Turkish foreign policy and comparative politics, Sabri Sayarı obtained his B.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia University in the US. From 1971 to 1973, he worked as a faculty member at Rutgers University. Between 1974 and 1984, he served as a member of Boğaziçi University’s Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences. From 1994 to 2005, he was the Director of the Institute of Turkish Studies at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Washington, DC. During that period, he also served as the Chair of the Advanced Turkish Area Studies Seminar at the U.S State Department’s Foreign Service Institute. He has been a visiting professor at Columbia University, George Washington University, and University of California (Irvine) in the US, and Aarhus University in Denmark.

An article entitled “Insider Giving” by Süreyya Burcu Avcı, part-time faculty member at Sabancı Business School, has been published in the Duke Law Journal of the Duke School of Law in the US.

Written by Süreyya Burcu Avcı, Prof. Dr. Cindy Schipani and Prof. Dr. Nejat Seyhun of University of Michigan Ross School of Business, Prof. Dr. Andrew Verstein of UCLA School of Law, the article covers big corporate shareholders who donate their stocks to charities and obtain sizeable profits thanks to tax deductions. The study indicates that stock prices increased by 6 per cent in one year before the donation date, and decreased by four per cent one year later. Showing that donations are made when the stock price is at the top, the study highlights that this situation is either an abnormal coincidence or attributable to “insider giving”.

The article was shown by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a reference for its proposed law amendment.

You can reach the article by clicking here.

Prince Abdülmecid Efendi, who had a lasting effect on the Ottoman art world, is on view at SSM with a selection of artworks, most of which are together on view for the first time.

Under the sponsorship of Sabancı Holding, Sabancı University Sakıp Sabancı Museum hosts the “Prince’s Extraordinary World: Abdülmecid Efendi” exhibition on the life and art of Abdülmecid Efendi, who had a lasting effect on Turkish art history. Apart from his patronage to many artists and institutions, he was an accomplished painter who was also interested in calligraphy, music and literature. The exhibition is open to all art lovers between 21 December 2021 – 1 May 2022.

“Prince’s Extraordinary World: Abdülmecid Efendi” comprises artworks from SSM’s collection, 14 official institution collections, 17 family collections, private museum and gallery collections, together with the works that arrived from France, where the Caliph spent his last 20 years, with the support and cooperation of the Institut Français Turkey and the French Consulate in Istanbul. The exhibition collection consists of 60 paintings and more than 300 documents, along with a self-portrait, dated 1926, from the Musée Massena Collection in Nice and 2 original framed paintings taken from the Pierre Loti Museum House in Rochefort and gifted to Loti by Abdülmecid Efendi.

The exhibition offers a comprehensive perspective on Abdülmecid Efendi's art. The “Abdülmecid Efendi Beyond Vision” section presents the SSM collection’s six Abdülmecid Efendi paintings, which were, for the first time ever, subject to a scientific research study. The study carried out in collaboration with Sabancı University, Koç University and Istanbul University Faculty of Forestry, illuminates Abdülmecid Efendi's painting technique, the restoration in his works; the structure, colour, paint layers and texture of the materials he used, and his artistic production conditions.

“We believe in the inclusive and unifying power of art. We believe in the hope it spreads.”

On his opening speech for the exhibition, Sabancı Holding CEO Cenk Alper said, “As the Sabancı Group, we remain a pioneer and set a model not only in economic terms; but also in culture, art and education, the essential areas for social development. In all circumstances, we believe in the inclusive, unifying and inspiring power of art. We believe in the hope it spreads. And this is exactly why, art remains our most significant, established value. Our group’s desire to convey our country’s values to a broader audience is maintained today with yet another master, with our support to the Abdülmecid Efendi exhibition. I would like to thank Sakıp Sabancı Museum for making this encounter a reality, and congratulate our museum, which will turn 20 in 2022, for enhancing our world with art and contributing to our country’s art scene.”

“We commemorate Abdülmecid Efendi with a selection of artworks, most of which will be seen for the first time”

Nazan Ölçer, The Director of Sabancı Museum, said; “We are happy that the Sakıp Sabancı Museum will host such an extraordinary artist, a versatile Prince. Abdülmecid Efendi, Sultan Abdülaziz’s first son born during his reign, experienced the tragic death of his father at a very early age and could never disremember it. He spent about fifty years of his life as a prince, four years as a crown prince, about sixteen months as a caliph, and the last twenty years in exile. In his seventy-six years of life, he witnessed three regimes: absolute monarchy, constitutional monarchy and the republic, and endured two world wars. Abdülmecid Efendi, the last heir and the last caliph of the Ottoman Empire, and the first and only caliph elected by the Turkish Grand National Assembly, personally witnessed the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire. Undoubtedly, he is one of the those most affected by the military and political affairs; yet still, we see that he was always a benevolent father and grandfather. Along with his painter identity, he was interested in music and calligraphy. With his support to the intellectuals and artists, with whom he maintained close friendships; he was extraordinary for the Ottoman dynasty ever since his princedom. Conscious of the spirit of his time and the tensions between East-West and tradition-modernity, he lived his life as an Ottoman intellectual who was open to the West while staying true to his religion and tradition. Abdülmecid Efendi, who became a modern prince, combining East and West witin his person; is commemorated in our exhibition with a selection of artworks, most of which will be seen for the first time.

In our exhibition, we will look at Prince’s relationship with literature and music, as well as his close friendships with the intellectuals and artists of the period, along with his painting. For the first time, we will see his three Fog paintings side by side, inspired by Tevfik Fikret's poem. We will explore Abdülmecid Efendi with more than 300 documents, including the landscape paintings he gifted to his close friend Pierre Loti; his letters, family photos, some of which remained unknown, and many menus, including the invitation card given by his close friend Abdülhak Hamit for the premiere of his play, Finten. Throughout the exhibition, our visitors will be accompanied by musical compositions by his father, Sultan Abdülaziz, who also established the first comprehensive painting collection of the palace. We invite all art lovers to our museum to get to know the extraordinary Prince better.”

Sabancı University staff and students can visit the exhibition “Prince’s Extraordinary World: Abdülmecid Efendi” free of charge at the SSM’s Gallery on -2 between 10:00 – 18:00 except for Mondays and 10:00 – 20:00 on Saturdays; until Sunday, 1 May 2022.

Organized by Sabancı University Gender and Women’s Studies Center of Excellence (SU Gender), Curious Steps: Gender and Memory Walks were held after a long pandemic break in Beyoğlu on December 15, 2021.  

Şeyda Çetin, curator of Meşher Gallery, who participated in the walk realized within the framework of the Beyoğlu Senin (Beyoğlu is Yours) project, which hosts the Beyoğlu walks organized by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality around different themes and routes, shared striking examples of artist stories that can be added to Curious Steps Beyoğlu route. In addition, she provided information about the exhibition entitled "I-You-They: A Century of Artist Women" which will be on display in the Gallery until the end of March.  

Since 2014, SU Gender has organized gender and memory walks in Beyoğlu, Kadıköy and Balat within the framework of the Curious Steps Program. Prepared with the contributions of voluntary storytellers, routes are set based on the following questions: 

Where are women in the past and present of this city, this district, this venue? Where are LGBTI+ individuals? How does gender shape the city’s story and the social memory about it? How do silences in social memory reflect to spaces, streets and parks of the city? Where can we find traces of women, LGBTI+ individuals and gender in memory layers of the city? How can we narrate and share what we find? How do searching, designing, sharing these stories and walking the city with these stories open doors to us and transform our relation with the city and its venues?

The Curious Steps Program started to make new steps in the digital environment and built a digital story map, Encountering Steps, with immigrant solidarity stories enriched by visuals led by video and photography artist, Selen Çatalyürekli. 

To view videos of the Curious Steps Beyoğlu Walk on December 15 and see other events of the Beyoğlu Senin project, you can visit the project’s beyoglusenin.ist website and social media accounts.  

Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM) has signed an agreement with the Abdi İbrahim company to develop biodegradable polymers, which are more sustainable and circular types of packaging, for use in primary packaging of consumer health products.

Within the framework of the agreement, a project was started at SUNUM. The project involves developing biodegradable packaging, manufacturing prototypes and checking the prototypes against all the regulatory and technical success criteria applicable to consumer health products. The project is planned to be completed in 27 months including the tests. By the end of the project, biodegradable packaging will have been used in consumer health products for the first time in Turkey.

Fazilet Vardar Sukan, Director of Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), highlighted the importance of the project as follows: “After Turkey signed the Paris Agreement, works started to move to greener manufacturing practices with an inclusive approach for all the sectors by using sustainable manufacturing technologies towards the zero-carbon target. In this context, as Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center, we find it important to design our industry collaborations in line with the sustainability strategies of companies and the country. Through our collaborations with the industry players, we aim to ensure that the prototypes that are manufactured make a difference in the market and lead the green transition model.”

M. Oğuzcan Bülbül, Abdi İbrahim’s Public Relations and Corporate Communications Director, said the following about the project agreement: “Our most important common goal in the context of environment is to become a carbon-neutral company by 2030, and we are making determined and clear steps to do so. We want to be part of the green transition. Both in the pharmaceuticals sector and in other sectors, we can see that the new axis has shifted to low-carbon economy as far as consumer choice and global competition are concerned. Within the framework of the European Green Deal and the associated Circular Economy Action Plan, we expect that new and radical regulations will be introduced in the future to make plastic packaging more sustainable and further extend consumption of biodegradable packaging”.