Barış Erdeniz: Investment in Innovative Projects to Continue

ELDER Chairman of the Board Barış Erdeniz: “We will continue to invest in innovative projects for our country”

Coordinated by the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) and the Electricity Distribution Services Association (Elder), the “Enerjim Sensin Acceleration Program”, carried out in cooperation with İTÜ ARI Teknokent, held its demo day with intense participant interest.

The Enerjim Sensin Acceleration Program, which aims to support ventures developing innovative projects in the energy sector, hosted the presentations of 15 entrepreneurial projects that made it to the final among 180 applications. Among the finalists who made their presentations on the “Gelecek Vadedenler” (Those Who Show Promise) stage, the top 3 successful entrepreneurs were awarded a total of 1.5 million TRY. The venture that ranked 1st on the “Geleceği Şekillendirenler” (Those Who Shape the Future) stage will gain the opportunity to collaborate by directly entering the electricity distribution sector.

“Employment for 1,200 people was provided”

Speaking at the ceremony held for the Enerjim Sensin program, Elder Chairman of the Board Barış Erdeniz stated that a total of 600 applications had been received in the previous 4 programs, 182 of which were supported, providing employment for 1,200 people. Erdeniz emphasized that 34 entrepreneurs achieved success in expanding abroad, and that the supported ventures generated an annual turnover of 145 million dollars, raising their company valuations to as much as 400 million dollars.

In his speech, in which he delivered important messages to the sector, Barış Erdeniz drew attention to the fierce global competition taking place in the field of energy transformation. Emphasizing that digital transformation and smart grid issues, along with electrification, green transformation and carbon targets in the energy sector worldwide, are gaining momentum, Erdeniz stated that this transformation is called the “Great Energy Transformation”. Erdeniz noted that innovation is inevitable for the Great Energy Transformation, and reminded that Türkiye should not remain in the back ranks of the transformation competition.

Erdeniz said the following:

“As the Electricity Distribution Sector, we are aware of how strategic a responsibility we have in this transformation process. With this awareness, we are bringing the energy of our youth to our side by investing in innovative projects. We will expand this entrepreneurship ecosystem to ensure that more innovative ventures contribute to the sector.”