The 14 most innovative R&D projects awarded TRY 135,000 in prizes

The Chemical Industry Export Project Market in Pharmaceuticals and Chemical Products, organized to increase sector exports through high-value-added products, was held for the sixth time this year. Forty innovative projects competed, including a cartilage-printable bio-printer, artificial human blood production from green plants, antimicrobial bioplastic production from olive pit waste, sunscreen effective against UV-induced hair loss, and magnetic skin care masks. A total of TRY 135,000 in awards was distributed to 14 projects selected by a jury of subject matter experts at the ceremony. Organized under the coordination of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) in partnership with İKMİB and AKMİB, the "6th Chemical Industry R&D Project Market" was held on 26 November 2016 at the Istanbul Foreign Trade Complex. The R&D Project Market, marking its sixth year and the largest innovation event in the chemical sector, brought together universities, research institutions, industrialists, entrepreneurs and relevant public institutions. A total of 188 projects submitted in the fields of Pharmaceuticals and Pharmacy Products, Cosmetics, Soap and Cleaning Products, Plastics and Rubber, Basic Chemicals, and Paints and Adhesives, deemed suitable for evaluation, were assessed by members of the Evaluation Board comprising academics and industrialists using an online scoring system. Project owners who made it to the top 40 made detailed presentations to jury members at the Awards Board Meeting. Following the evaluation, first-place projects in each category received TRY 15,000, second-place projects TRY 10,000, and third-place projects TRY 5,000.

İKMİB Board of Directors Chairman Murat Akyüz, speaking at the Chemistry R&D Project Market Awards Ceremony,

"We held the R&D Project Market for the sixth time this year to increase value-added in chemical exports, promote innovation culture and develop university-industry cooperation. The importance of R&D and innovation work in reducing raw material and intermediate goods imports in the chemical sector cannot be denied. Our sector, positioned as the locomotive of the economy with high-value-added product groups such as plastics, cosmetics, paints, pharmaceuticals and medical products, aims to increase exports through R&D and innovation investments. The Chemistry R&D Project Market, which supports new ideas and projects in the sector, plays an important role in achieving our objectives. We have received over 800 applications to date for our event and supported award-winning projects with a total of TRY 551,000 in awards. However, what is truly important is that award-winning projects are not merely projects but are producible and brought to industry. The more producible these ideas are, the greater their contribution to both our sector and the country's economy. In this direction, we continue our support for award-winning projects afterwards. We exhibit the relevant projects at sectoral fairs throughout the year to facilitate their meetings with industrialists," he said.

R&D Project Market Executive Board Chairman Necmi Sadıkoğlu

In evaluating the Chemistry R&D Project Market, now in its sixth year, stated: "We encountered very impressive projects at the R&D Project Market this year as well. Once again, the importance of R&D and innovation became clear. After a challenging evaluation process, 40 projects managed to reach the finals. Selecting which of these projects would receive awards was quite difficult. The most valuable achievement for us would be if our industrialists convert all of these valuable projects into production. We invite all our industrialists to examine the projects. It is important that projects produced in the cosmetics sector in previous years exist, and we hope these examples become widespread in all other sectors." Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) Chairman Mehmet Büyükekşi, addressing the Chemistry R&D Project Market and emphasizing the importance of innovation, invited university students and entrepreneurs to the Innovation Week to be held on 8-10 December 2016.

Mehmet Büyükekşi;

"The chemical sector holds great importance for the country's economy in terms of producing high value-added products. The main purpose of R&D Project Markets is also to contribute to high value-added production. We embarked on this path especially to develop industry-university cooperation. It is important to make these projects profitable and find buyers for the projects. Nowadays, reaching consumers is a must; products that make consumers' lives easier rise to the front ranks in competition. Since the chemical sector is present in every aspect of life, it is very possible to make products that will make consumers' lives easier. But unfortunately, we are still not where we should be. These projects are of great importance from this perspective as well. R&D, innovation and design are essential elements to create world brands. Among our 2023 export targets is to capture 1.5 percent of world foreign trade. To achieve this target, we must work much harder," he said.

AWARD-WINNING PROJECTS AT THE 6TH CHEMISTRY R&D PROJECT MARKET

 

PHARMACEUTICALS AND PHARMACY PRODUCTS CATEGORY:

First Prize:

Project Name: Development of a Spray Dosage Form with Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Effects That Gels at the Application Site for Topical Application of Flurbiprofen Project Owner: Burcu Mesut

Second Prize:

Project Name: Development of a New Formulated Proteolytic Material Used in the Preparation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Molecules Project Owner: Cevahir Altınkaynak

Third Prize:

Project Name: Use of Zirconia Obtained by Purification of Zirconium Silicate Sand in the Oral and Dental Health Sector Project Owner: Özge Doğan

Third Prize:

Project Name: Artificial Human Blood Production from Green Plants for the Healthcare Sector Project Owner: Halit Çetin

COSMETICS, SOAP AND CLEANING PRODUCTS CATEGORY:

Second Prize:

Project Name: Recombinant Protease Production for the Detergent Industry Project Owner: Canan Gülmez

Third Prize:

Project Name: Production of Magnetic Skin Care Masks with Different Properties for Use in Treatment and Skin Care Project Owner: Sevda Gökçe Yılmaz

PLASTICS AND RUBBER CATEGORY:

First Prize:

Project Name: Obtaining Rubber from Dandelion Flower Suitable for Industrial Use Project Owner: Erdem Mutlu

Second Prize:

Project Name: Synthesis of Cross-linked Polyethylene-Organoclay Nanocomposites Project Owner: Ahmet Gürses

BASIC CHEMICALS CATEGORY:

First Prize:

Project Name: DERTAB Project Owner: Taşkın Öztürk

Second Prize:

Project Name: Denture Cleaner and Polisher from Apricot Seed Shell Powder Project Owner: Erkan Bahçe

Third Prize:

Project Name: Recycling of Valuable Metals in Waste Batteries—Domestic Prototype Production Project Owner: Makbule Dene

PAINTS AND ADHESIVES CATEGORY:

First Prize:

Project Name: Development of a Portable Gas Sensor Using Inkjet Printing Technology Project Owner: Gizem Dikici

Second Prize:

Project Name: Synthesis of Next-Generation Nano-Composite/Antibacterial Materials Project Owner: Savaş Sönmezoğlu

Third Prize:

Project Name: Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Self-Extinguishing Polymers to Paint and Varnish Formulations Project Owner: Deniz Yerleşti