Chip Manufacturing Plant Opens in Gebze

Chip Manufacturing Facility Investment and "IDEA Incubation" Startup Incubator Inaugurated at TÜBİTAK Gebze Campus TÜBİTAK President Mandal stated in his remarks at the ceremony that Turkey has had expertise in this field since 1983 through the Semiconductor Technologies Research Laboratory (YİTAL), and noted that since the early 2010s, the institution has possessed the competence and infrastructure to meet, albeit in a limited capacity, the needs of the defense industry. Mandal emphasized that having infrastructure without competence is meaningless, and said that today they are adding a new initiative to efforts in this field. Noting that their current competence is at the 250 nanometer scale, Mandal continued: "The need here is to develop sensors for different purposes in terms of both precision, performance and production speed. We will be developing this together with Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar." Mandal made the following remarks on the subject: "In this way, we will move to an important stage. This will require a larger investment in the future. For this, we will need human resources. I believe that the competence we will gain at 65 nanometers today will be an important experience both in terms of our confidence and the realization of the investment. We will increase our potential within TÜBİTAK's competence in Turkey and it will also be an important stage particularly in terms of developing human resources." Mandal noted that the ecosystem in the design field has grown very well with both TÜBİTAK and recently established companies, saying: "For the first time last year, a chip design competition was launched under TEKNOFEST competitions, and our young people are carrying this out excellently."

"We will host 80 startups"

Mandal noted that today they also inaugurated the IDEA Incubation startup incubator at MARTEK, one of Turkey's first technology parks, and explained that many of the companies at MARTEK have technology development and manufacturing competence in various sectors. Stating that they will particularly contribute to the technology-based entrepreneurial ecosystem, Mandal said: "We will host a total of 80 startups in both pre-incubation and established startup programs. We will not charge fees for one year, food and transportation costs will be covered by us, and we will provide free mentoring services." Kocaeli Governor Seddar Yavuz noted that Turkey is making significant investments in science, industry and technology under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and emphasized the importance of national chip production for national security. Hamad Bin Khalifa University Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmad Hasnah underlined the need to build more bridges between institutions, saying that they must work together and build the future together. Following the remarks, TÜBİTAK President Mandal and Rector Hasnah signed the protocol regarding the chip manufacturing investment. Subsequently, Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank and protocol members cut the ribbon for the IDEA Incubation startup incubator. The program was also attended by Industry and Technology Deputy Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır and Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tahir Büyükakın.

Chip manufacturing facility to be established in Gebze

The protocol signed between TÜBİTAK and Qatar's Hamad Bin Khalifa University covers cooperation for establishing a chip manufacturing facility on the TÜBİTAK Gebze campus. Under the protocol, the machinery necessary for establishing the chip production line will be provided by Hamad Bin Khalifa University. TÜBİTAK BİLGEM will be responsible for the construction of the production facility and clean rooms as well as the operation of the facility. The facility will have 2,000 square meters of clean space and will begin production within one year. The Chip Manufacturing Facility will also provide research and development and product development opportunities.  

42 entrepreneurs developing their ideas at IDEA Incubation

Two programs are being operated at the opened Idea Incubation: incubation and pre-incubation programs. Under the incubation program, aimed at companies that have been established for a maximum of 3 years and have a research and development project, 38 companies are currently operating. The evaluation processes for 9 companies are ongoing. These companies are primarily active in the software and information technology sectors. The pre-incubation program includes entrepreneurs, predominantly students, who have not yet moved from the idea stage to the project stage and have not been incorporated. Following an education plan, all training needed on the entrepreneurship journey from entrepreneurship to patent processes, from company establishment to marketing processes is provided. Patent support and consulting are also offered to entrepreneurs. Additionally, entrepreneurs can take advantage of free office and mentoring facilities that are open 24/7. Under the pre-incubation program, 42 entrepreneurs are developing their ideas at the incubator.   Source