A scientific article, of which Ersin Göğüş, member of Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences is one of the corresponding authors, was published in Nature journal on December 22, 2021. Collaborating with researchers from University of Bergen (Norway), Ersin Göğüş said the following about his article that was published: “High-frequency oscillations in the main peak of a magnetar giant flare are observed for the first time. These extremely high-frequency oscillations in the burst peak are a crucial component that will aid our understanding of magnetar giant flares”.

Covering the very-high-frequency oscillations, the article is further described below. 

 The Most Fascinating Show of a Far Magnetar

High-energy photons from a giant flare were detected by ASIM (Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor) instruments aboard the International Space Station on April 15, 2020 after covering a long distance in the deep space. It was found that the source of this giant flare was a neutron star with a strong magnetic field in NGC 253 galaxy, which is approximately 12 million light years[1] away from us. Findings obtained through ASIM can shed light on studies in this field.

Neutron stars are structures with matters that are the most intensive and still observable. A tablespoonful of neutron star placed on Earth's surface would weigh as much as Mount Everest. Neutron stars with the strongest magnetic fields are called magnetars. Being more than a trillion times stronger than the magnetic field of the sun, these magnetic fields result in magnetar giant flares. Oscillations in the main peak of a magnetar giant flare are of very high-frequency, to such extent that they even paralyze[2] high-performance, new generation observation instruments.

Built with the support of ESA (European Space Agency) to observe gamma-ray flares close to the earth and operating aboard the International Space Station, ASIM is capable of recording very-high-frequency gamma-rays. Results obtained from the data collected with ASIM on April 20, 2020 are a breakthrough about magnetar giant flares: Very high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations are detected for the first time in the main peak of a magnetar giant flare.

High-frequency oscillations from very energetic flares are considered to result from interactions in the very strong magnetic field of a neutron star. Starquakes that can happen in neutron stars with the impact of magnetic pressure are also considered to play a role in the oscillations that are observed.

Projects of Özge Kemahlıoğlu, Junko Kanero and Çiğdem Bağcı members of Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) is entitled to receive support within the framework of the TUBITAK ARDEB 1001 Program - Scientific and Technological Research Project Support.

The project of Junko Kanero and Çiğdem Bağcı is entitled “Developing Attitudes towards Robots and Other Groups: Examining Human-Robot Interaction in Terms of Intergroup Contact”. This project consists of a series of experimental studies exploring how children and adults interact with and think about social robots. Using Intergroup Contact Theory (Allport, 1954; Pettigrew, 1997) as a conceptual framework, we empirically examine the psychological consequences of face-to-face contact with a robot. We aim to provide a comprehensive picture on the topic by testing a wide range of populations and measures in controlled environments.

The project of Özge Kemahlıoğlu, is entitled “How Voters Use Information When They Update Their Policy Expectations”. The literature analytically distinguishes between retrospective and prospective voting. Voters are expected to make their decision based on a review of the past performance of governments (retrospective evaluation) and a comparison of the expectations from policies of alternative governments (prospective evaluation). Recently the different steps of retrospective evaluation have been analyzed, including how the voters’ information affect their evaluations. However, not many studies have been conducted on the process of prospective evaluation.

This project aims to analyze how voters update their expectations based on available information. Information that can be used to form expectations about policies’ consequences can originate from different sources. Especially, in environments with limited media opportunities, information shared by the government can play an important role. Yet, the government would be expected to be more informed and decide strategically how it will share this information with the public. In a context of such asymmetric information not every voter will use this information and update her expectations.

According to the main hypothesis of this project, voters who are ideologically close to the government and the government will have similar interests, making the government more willing to share information accurately. Knowing this, ideologically close voters will be more inclined to think that the shared information is accurate and will update her expectation based on this information. We plan to test this hypothesis with a survey experiment.

Winners of the METU Prof. Dr. Mustafa N. Parlar Education and Research Foundation 2021 Awards have been announced.

Ali Koşar, member of Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, researcher at Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), and Co-Director of EFSUN Center, receives the 2021 METU Prof. Dr. Mustafa Parlar Foundation Science Award, which is given to scientists who have contributed significantly to science at the international level with their scientific studies and research or to the development of the country with their scientific findings. 

Every year, the METU Prof. Dr. Mustafa N. Parlar Education and Research Foundation rewards distinguished scientists for their efforts by recognizing their outstanding research and contributions in all fields of sciences, certifying their competencies and encouraging future talented researchers.

We congratulate our faculty member on his achievement!

Murat Germen, member of Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), has become the winner of an international photography award with his photography series titled “Reuse of Abandoned Industrial Architectural Heritage”. Murat Germen’s photographs became the winner in Industrial Exterior category of the 1^st Architecture Photography MasterPrize (APMP).

Stating that he collaborated with Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality on this project, Murat Germen continued as follows: “They wanted me to document 6 abandoned industrial buildings they owned and wanted to transform into public buildings for reuse with various functions like museums, cultural centers, recreational centers, research centers, etc. The photo set will be used to open a solo show when the pandemic conditions allow visits. I personally value industrial architectural heritage very much and even did a solo show in year 2005 on this topic”.

The winners of “Dicle Koğacıoğlu Article Awards” organized for the 12^th time this year by Sabancı University Gender and Women’s Studies Center of Excellence (SU Gender) in the memory of Dicle Koğacıoğlu, an academic and activist who passed away in 2009, were announced at an online conference on December 25. Articles by Dilan Alataş, Şehide Zehra Keleş Yüksel and Gözde Cöbek won the award.

Working to raise awareness regarding gender in Turkey with programs such as the Purple Certificate, Curious Steps, Transformative Activism, Gender Equality, and Gender, Diversity and Inclusivity, SU Gender  has been giving the Dicle Koğacıoğlu Article Awards since 2010 with the support of Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Science. Young researchers carrying out gender-focused research about Turkish society and culture can apply for the award program.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Eren İnci, Vice-Dean of Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Science, said the award program, delivered to support gender-focused studies in Turkey, was one of the most prestigious award programs in its field. He continued as follows: “The conference and the awards have continued with success for 12 years. I am glad to see the colleagues, friends, relatives and students of Dicle Koğacıoğlu who try to make her name survive despite so much time that has passed. I believe this is a very important and very meaningful thing. Dicle carried out important studies in the field of sociology of law, particularly about the role of gender equality in this field. I can see how the mechanisms that Dicle mentioned years ago shed light to our day, and notice how she wrote sentences above and beyond her time. I also feel upset because I have remembered once again that on the eve of 2022, in a new millennium, we are not yet at the desired level in terms of gender equality. I am sure the future will be better, and we will live beautiful days in peace and prosperity”.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Hülya Adak, Director of SU Gender, said the following: “Once again, Dicle, our dear colleague and friend who highlighted the evolution of sociology of law in Turkey and its intersection with gender brought us together today on occasion of the Dicle Koğacıoğlu Article Awards Conference and Award Ceremony organized for 12 years”.  She continued as follows:

“Thanks to this tradition that we have sustained since 2010, deans and members of our faculty, students and friends of Dicle, and all other students, researchers, artists and authors inspired by the work of Dicle have taken inspiration from these gatherings and moved to brand new fields of study over the years. Researchers coming together at these gatherings had a chance to get their articles published in the book entitled Gender Cultures in Turkey compiled by Ayşecan Terzioğlu and Cenk Özbay. As her friends, colleagues, students, family and researchers who knew and learned a lot from her, we prepared and published a video about Dicle in 2020. Over the years, the Dicle Koğacıoğlu Awards Ceremony became an example for other awards and ceremonies. In 2017, the Şirin Tekeli Awards Ceremony was added to our gatherings. This year, within the framework of the Purple Certificate Program, we have started to give awards to primary and high school teachers for their extraordinary and outstanding classroom practices on the axis of gender equality. All these works are inspired by the Dicle Koğacıoğlu Conferences.”

THIS AWARDS LET US MEET NEW DİCLEs

Nevzat Süer Sezgin, mother of Dicle Koğacıoğlu, thanked everyone who contributed to the conference and the ceremony, particularly Sabancı University and SU Gender. She said: “These efforts keep us connected to life. This award makes us bigger and extends our lives as family members of Dicle. We get to know new Dicles. The research they carry out, particularly in the field of gender equality, make me have a hopeful perspective for the future”.

Murat Koğacıoğlu, father of Dicle Koğacıoğlu, said the following: “Dicle’s friends, colleagues, students did the best thing that could have been done after a fried who passed away. These awards are very important to keep the memory of Dicle alive. We lost Dicle, so did the sociology of law”.

Necmiye Alpay, an author attending the opening chat of the conference, talked about her long-term friendship and a couple of memories with Dicle Koğacıoğlu.

Following the opening chat, two separate panels were held moderated by Biray Anıl Birer and Şeyma Gümüş. The winners of this year’s awards were announced in the panel: Dilan Alataş - “Autism Mothers: Care Labor and Critical Imagination of Parenting”, Şehide Zehra Keleş Yüksel - “Hosting the Public: Home Visits for Social Study Purposes and Public Imaginations of Housewives”, Gözde Cöbek - “When Harry meets Sally (on an online application): Heterosexual Online Flirting World in Turkey”.

Within the framework of the conference, Göksu Köktürk made a presentation entitled “A Look through Women Consumers on the Relation of Femvertising with Gender Equality in the Context of Post Feminism and Meta Feminism”.

ARTICLE AWARDS:

1. Dilan Alataş, “Autism Mothers: Care Labor and Critical Imagination of Parenting”

2. Şehide Zehra Keleş Yüksel, “Hosting the Public: Home Visits for Social Study Purposes and Public Imaginations of Housewives”

3. Gözde Cöbek, “When Harry meets Sally (on an online application): Heterosexual Online Flirting World in Turkey”

You can reach the film that SU Gender prepared for Dicle Koğacıoğlu and the book prepared last year from the links below. 

https://gazetesu.sabanciuniv.edu/toplum-ve-bilim/turkiyede-cinsiyet-kulturleri-dicle-kogacioglu-kitabi 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6cwLUQBVIY&t=1514s

About Dicle Koğacıoğlu:

Dicle Koğacıoğlu was born in 1972 in Izmir. After graduating from the Boğaziçi University Sociology Department, she continued her doctoral studies at the State University of New York at Stony Brook in the fields of sociology and women’s studies. From 1997-1998, she worked as a research assistant for the international project entitled “Constitutional Law and The Modernization of Political Institutions in the Islamic Middle East.” In the same year she took part in the Human Right Watch project “Freedom of Expression in Turkey” as a consultant and translator. In 1999, she returned to Boğaziçi University and worked as an instructor in the Sociology department. She acted as a coordinator at the İzmit Doğukışla Rehabilitation Center for a project by Women for Women’s Human Rights that was organized for children who were traumatized after the 1999 Marmara earthquake. In the same period, she acted as an editorial assistant for the book Women and Sexuality in the Muslim World. She continued her graduate research from 2002-2004 at Columbia University and Brown University’s Pembroke Women’s Studies Center. After beginning to work as an instructor for the Sabanci University Arts and Social Sciences faculty, Dicle Koğacıoğlu made important contributions to the development of the undergraduate and graduate Cultural Studies programs and gender-based projects. At the same time, she led projects that were attentive to the deaths in the Tuzla shipyards, to the problems of the subcontractor system found in every domain of life, including the university, and to inequalities and injustices experienced in every area.

Dicle Koğacıoğlu’s doctoral thesis was a major contribution to the advancement of the sociology of law in Turkey and to the recognition of gender within that field. Entitled “Law in Context: Citizenship and Reproduction of Inequality in an Istanbul Courthouse,” it was the recipient of the Middle East Competition Award by the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies and the Middle East Awards (MEAwards) by the Population Council. Her articles that underscore the decisive role of law and the state in honor killings continue to be widely used in both international academic studies and within Turkey. When she left us in the year 2009, Dicle Koğacıoğlu was creating a space for research about access processes to justice, and at the same time she was investigating how the September 12, 1980 coup was perceived and understood by lawyers.

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.