DESIGNHUB-IST DESIGN EDUCATION AND APPLICATION CENTER OPENED

Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank inaugurated the Designhub Istanbul Design, Education and Application Center. Noting that the project developed by Kadir Has University was supported by approximately 1.5 million liras through the Istanbul Development Agency, Varank said, "This center will become one of the important centers that feeds the creative industries ecosystem in Istanbul with the education-workshop-incubation model." said.

The Designhub-Ist Design, Education and Application Center was opened by Kadir Has University Art and Design Faculty Dean's Office with the support of Istanbul Development Agency (ISTKA). Speaking at the opening of the center, which is supported under the Creative Industries Financial Support Program of ISTKA, Varank mentioned the digital world and works of art such as metaverse and NFT, and said that the value of these digital works continues to exceed million dollars. Talking about the export success of the Turkish TV series and film industry, and the game and software industry producing unicorns, Varank stated that the concept of "creative industries" is beginning to be heard more often.

ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INDEPENDENCE

Emphasizing that these industries, whose raw material is ideas and which develop on the basis of talent, have a transformative power on the national economies, Varank said, "For this, we need to create an ecosystem that will enable the development of these industries and that is conducive to growth. As the Ministry of Industry and Technology, we We are growing and deepening our R&D, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem every day." he said.

15 BILLION TL SUPPORT

Stating that they support the R&D, design, investment, production and branding activities of businesses in every corner of the country, Varank stated that they have provided nearly 15 billion liras of support to more than 24 thousand projects through 26 development agencies. Pointing to the weight of Istanbul, a world metropolis, in the Turkish economy, Varank said that the megacity is the flagship of the country in terms of integration with the global economy.

SUPPORT FOR 129 PROJECTS

Referring to the efforts made by the creative industries to increase their weight in Istanbul, Varank said, "We started the Creative Industries Development Financial Support Program to meet the needs of finance, human resources and physical infrastructure. Within the scope of the program, we have provided approximately 132 million liras in support to 129 projects. That's it today. We are officially opening the Designhub Istanbul Design, Education and Application Center, which is one of the projects. We provided support of approximately 1.5 million lira to this project developed by Kadir Has University through ISTKA. This center will support the creative industries ecosystem in Istanbul with the education-workshop-incubation model. Under the umbrella of architectural design, our center will provide an environment of interaction for academics, design centers, entrepreneurs and students." said.

THE KEY TO BRING OUT

Stating that they continue to support projects that will strengthen Istanbul's place in the design and creativity ecosystem, Varank gave information on the subject. Emphasizing that design is "the key to coming to the fore" in a market with similar products in terms of price, quality and performance, Varank noted that it is possible to differentiate with design.

DESIGN CLUSTER

Giving information about the Design Cluster they implemented in the IT Valley, Varank said, "With the initiative of the design cluster, we now bring together architects, designers and artists under one roof, bringing design firms and technology firms side by side. Also, our doors are wide open to students here." he said.

COMPETITIVE SECTORS PROGRAM

Stating that international resources should be used at the maximum level in order to implement the policies they have developed more effectively, Varank said, "At the beginning of these is the Competitive Sectors Program, which we co-finance with the EU. We have provided 780 million Euros of support to 88 projects so far." said.

AN IMPORTANT CENTER IN TURKEY

Varank stated that with the Creative Industries Platform of Kadir Has University, which they will support in this context, the university will become an important center in the field of creative industries not only in Istanbul but also in all of Turkey.

CALLED

Stating that there is the opportunity to find funds for projects in terms of international financing with EU programs, Varank said, "Foreign funds are important. We are talking about great opportunities. I would like to make a call here; please, both our professors and students should closely follow the calls to be opened in the Horizon Europe program to be carried out in the 2021-2027 period. Let them do it, establish consortia. Thus, they will have the opportunity to receive support and financing from the most advanced research infrastructures and the most competent actors." used the phrases.

ENTREPRENEUR FRIENDLY

Varank turns Istanbul into a regional and global entrepreneurship center.He emphasized that they are trying to create an entrepreneur-friendly climate in order to

NEW ECOSYSTEM

Kadir Has University Rector Prof. Dr. Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz, pointing to the features of Designhub-Ist, said, "The main goal of this center is to help establish new institutional, technological and sustainable ecosystems by creating a model for platforms that will bring together public, private sector and academic institutions." said.

UNMATCHED MODEL

Kadir Has University Board of Trustees Chairman Can Has stated that with this project supported by the Istanbul Development Agency, an unprecedented model has been created in almost all areas of the design industry, especially interior architecture.

R&D SOURCED

The main objective of the Designhub-Ist Design, Training and Application Center is; It was determined as a support to increase the added value with innovation and R&D-based studies in the field of design and in businesses that continue their activities as design centers in Turkey, especially in Istanbul.

DESIGN AWARENESS

Other goals of the project include "raising design awareness in enterprises", "establishing a physical laboratory with the necessary equipment for measurement and analysis in order to develop R&D projects in design fields", "online and face-to-face training seminars on project and product development in the field of design for enterprises". There are purposes such as "providing training on design and project management processes, organizing panels and workshops", "granting certificates to businesses operating in the field of design".