İTÜ ARI Teknokent and Petrol Ofisi Support Initiatives Against Covid-19

İTÜ ARI Teknokent and Petrol Ofisi collaboration continues the fight against COVID-19 through support for startups developing technologies on the subject. In the initial phase, products such as face shields, intubation boxes, snorkel masks converted to PPE masks for healthcare personnel, protective suits, and UVC light rooms and air sterilization units were developed, and their production and distribution were initiated. Among entrepreneurs responding to İTÜ Çekirdek's #FightCOVID19 call, 11 startups that passed the evaluation process with the direct participation of Petrol Ofisi management were selected for support. Among the startups developed and whose production is supported through the collaboration of İTÜ ARI Teknokent and Petrol Ofisi are technologies that will make significant contributions not only to combating COVID-19 and possible different pandemics but also to changing business and social life conditions in the future. Most of these technologies are the first in Turkey and some have no equivalent even in the world. These projects, which also demonstrate Turkey's technology and creativity potential, are attracting great interest and demand from around the globe. In addition to the improvements these developed technologies will bring to human health and living standards in Turkey and worldwide, they are expected to make high value-added economic contributions.

Among new projects supported in the scope of COVID-19 fight:

• Electronic masks capable of real-time monitoring of respiration and body temperature,
• Different test devices that are faster than currently used ones and deliver results within minutes,
• Fast and automatic multi-thermometer that can be monitored remotely,
• Instant and contactless disinfection of currency,
• Detection of damage caused by COVID-19 in the body through breath test,
• Automatic operation and remote monitoring of medical oxygen flowmeters,
• Practical, easy, fast test kits to determine antibody status against coronavirus in people who have had COVID-19 and nasal spray that can prevent pandemic spread
• Mitigation of chronic problems caused by COVID-19,
• Compact, economical, fast facial recognition and thermometer usable in dense entrances of small businesses such as cafes and barber shops as well as large places like shopping malls and factories,
• Surface and air disinfection robots using UVC light technology,

and other domestic and national technologies.

İTÜ Çekirdek, located within İTÜ ARI Teknokent and recognized among the world's top 5 university entrepreneurship centers, had launched the #FightCOVID19 call with the slogan "Develop at İTÜ Çekirdek, Improve the World" and initiated direct combat with the pandemic. Petrol Ofisi, the leader of Turkey's fuel sector, responded with "full support" to this call directed at entrepreneurs by İTÜ Çekirdek and joined the fight against COVID-19. Petrol Ofisi's support covers the development, production and distribution of projects undertaken by İTÜ Çekirdek entrepreneurs in combating coronavirus.

257 entrepreneurs applied, 125 projects underwent evaluation

So far, 257 entrepreneurs have applied to İTÜ Çekirdek's #FightCOVID19 call initiated in early April, and 125 projects were taken under evaluation. Applications were evaluated by three different juries established for COVID-19 and general projects. In the evaluations carried out, a total of 46 projects were selected and included in the process. Within the framework of collaboration between İTÜ Çekirdek and Petrol Ofisi, in the first phase, the development, production and distribution of products such as face shields, intubation boxes, snorkel masks converted to PPE masks for healthcare personnel, protective suits, and UVC light rooms and air sterilization units were ensured. Projects to be supported within the framework of collaboration between İTÜ Çekirdek and Petrol Ofisi were determined through three-stage evaluations conducted among entrepreneurs responding to the #FightCOVID19 call.

Advanced technologies to contribute to the fight are being developed

Among the startups whose development, production and distribution are targeted to be supported through the collaboration of İTÜ ARI Teknokent and Petrol Ofisi are domestic and national technologies that will make significant contributions not only to combating COVID-19 and possible different pandemics but also to changing business and social life conditions in the future. As a result of jury evaluations of İTÜ Çekirdek's COVID-19 fight call, 11 technological startups were selected for support. Among the supported projects are devices and technologies that, in addition to developments, have reached the production phase and are contributing or will contribute in the near future to the fight against the pandemic.

Supported startups:

Avokadio: A test device that detects early-stage infection from the breaths of COVID patients. Thanks to its very small size and nano-technology sensors inside, a simple breath test enables early diagnosis and facilitates treatment in combating chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases in addition to COVID-19. For example, based on breath analysis of chronic patients such as those with diabetes and obesity, this device supports the treatment processes of these diseases by adjusting personalized nutrition programs. This early diagnosis device will provide significant benefits both to individual and public health, and will make important contributions by easing Turkey's healthcare burden. The device, developed with new features added, is attracting considerable interest from abroad, with demand from many countries including the United States and the Netherlands. Axolotl Biosystem: A more advanced, domestic and national alternative test device to RT-QPCR machines currently used for coronavirus testing. Existing machines currently used are quite slow and require an operator. This new device will enable fully automatic operation without any user and the ability to examine many more samples (nearly 2,000 per day). This new test device will not only provide positive-negative results but also allow knowledge of how much viral load samples contain. This next-generation test device, on which work is being conducted intensively, will be both the first device produced in Turkey and a system that will lead technologically in the world. Coronity – Coromax: Electronic mask with lifetime use. An electronic, intelligent mask that displays people's breathing and body temperature, also enabling remote monitoring of data from family members or employees. The mask, which indicates the condition of the wearer through green, yellow and red lights on it, provides advantages in many areas from air travel to crowded environments. The mask, which has a lifetime use period, is charged in 15 minutes in a special UVC box and is also disinfected and ready for reuse. Low-volume production of the mask has begun, and preparation for serial production is underway. The mask, which is seeing very high demand from abroad, is receiving requests from approximately 20 countries including the United States and Germany. Micro-P Sense-I: Sense-I is a biometric security system developed for workplace safety and personnel tracking, KVKK compliant, capable of facial recognition, mask detection and temperature measurement, which will replace card-based access control systems. The artificial intelligence inside Sense-I, which can be easily mounted on turnstiles and doors, ensures in just 35 milliseconds that you are the cardholder. At the same time, it measures your temperature and checks whether you are wearing a mask, allowing the turnstile or door to open, increasing the security of card-based access systems while enabling early detection of outbreaks in crowded environments such as workplaces. With its small size, fast facial recognition capability and low energy consumption, Sense-I can track personnel in workplaces and, by preventing unauthorized personnel from using machines, can prevent workplace accidents and production errors. Additionally, it can increase safety by automatically taking attendance and measuring temperature in school shuttles and classrooms. Sense-I, which is in the production phase, is experiencing high demand both domestically and internationally. Money Shower: A device that easily and quickly disinfects currency in ATMs. Against the risk of virus and bacteria transmission in ATMs, a device that easily and quickly disinfects money. Money Shower disinfects money easily and quickly in ATMs. Money Shower's function of removing bacteria and viruses from paper money will not be limited to ATMs alone. There is no equivalent to Money Shower in Turkey or the world. A large private bank in Turkey uses Money Shower, and discussions with other banks are ongoing. There is considerable demand for Money Shower from around the world. Micronetech: A rapid diagnostic kit that detects whether COVID-19 is carried by detecting virus genetic material obtained from mucosa samples taken from mouth and nose, which emits radiation when combined with specially designed stained key material. A diagnostic kit that can be used anywhere and simply by anyone without requiring any laboratory, in airports, shopping malls or offices. As it measures from genetic material, the margin of error is very low and it produces results in as little as 10 minutes. This test kit, which attempts to determine directly from material, has no equivalent in the world. The device can be adapted to different viruses, fungi, bacteria and parasites by modifying the biological kit design. The test device, which successfully passed initial experimental COVID-19 tests, was submitted for Ethics Committee approval. Development work is continuing to add different features to the device, which is in the final stage of completion of other necessary tests and procedures. Evana: Multiple, fast and automatic thermometer with remote access in points with heavy human traffic such as shopping malls and workplaces. The device, which can be used at forehead or hand level without requiring any user, provides fast passage. Evena is distinguished from its counterparts by its ability to report the data it obtains via email or SMS. Evana, whose production has begun, is attracting considerable interest with the advantages it offers. Estaretech: A device that enables automatic adjustment, operation and remote monitoring of oxygen devices intensively used in COVID-19 treatment. With prototypes produced, the device is being prepared for serial production along with further developments. Pathonex: Pathonex, which supplies coronavirus antigen to diagnostic kit companies, develops different COVID-19 solutions. The Smart Elisa antibody test kit used in hospitals to determine antibody status against coronavirus in people who have had COVID-19. With validation studies completed on Smart Elisa, certification procedures are ongoing. For Smart Elisa, which is approaching the production phase, there are requests from countries such as Germany and Hong Kong. A sample collection kit for quarantined individuals who want to learn their immunity status. With this kit, people can take a blood sample from their fingers at home, bring the kit and deliver it to the waiting courier. Another solution the company is working on is a rapid diagnostic kit. In this system, similar to pregnancy tests, people can easily and quickly learn at home within minutes whether they have COVID-19 by dropping blood taken from their fingers onto a cassette. The last product Pathonex aims to develop is a nasal spray that prevents coronavirus multiplication, the most needed product during the pandemic period. The spray will contain a drug active substance that blocks the protein responsible for COVID-19 transmission. The drug is aimed at destroying viruses in the sinusoidal region, thereby reducing disease transmission. Gene-Us: Production of biosimilar drugs in Turkey to alleviate chronic problems caused by COVID-19 and other diseases. In the development phase, monthly production of 50 units is being conducted for laboratory tests. Ritter: Develops products using UVC light technology that provide surface and air disinfection. The robot being developed by the startup disinfects surfaces and air in approximately a 100-square-meter office, hospital unit or home in about 1 hour. Ritter, which provides automatic disinfection without requiring users, saves on human resources, costs and time. The 360-degree camera system on the robots detects humans and provides security, allowing disinfection in areas without people. Ritter, whose first prototypes were produced and donated to 19 hospitals, is being further developed with new capabilities added. What distinguishes Ritter from its worldwide counterparts is its ability to be used in human environments with the advanced technology it employs. The device detects when humans or living creatures enter the area and automatically stops its operation.

"Our priority is creating value for our country"

İTÜ ARI Teknokent Marketing and Business Development Director Arzu Eryılmaz: "Petrol Ofisi's response with 'full support' to our #FightCOVID19 call to entrepreneurs as İTÜ Çekirdek contributed greatly to the pandemic fight we initiated. Within the scope of this support, we worked shoulder to shoulder with Petrol Ofisi and were able to offer more entrepreneurs stronger and broader opportunities. Additionally, the know-how provided to entrepreneurs by Petrol Ofisi's jury members and mentors comprising valuable names during this process is invaluable. As İTÜ Çekirdek, our doors are wide open to all stakeholders who will contribute to entrepreneurs with commercializable technological ideas and technology startups. As long as we create value for our country," she said.

"We are thinking not just about today, but also about the future"

Petrol Ofisi CMO Beril Alakoç stated, "As the Country's Company, we also unhesitatingly responded to İTÜ Çekirdek's call when evaluating projects that would directly and powerfully impact the fight against the pandemic. Our collaboration in this area, like our other support, is not short-term or limited in scope. Our collaboration with İTÜ Çekirdek is not limited only to COVID-19 or just to these days; we are also thinking about the future. We aim for long-term collaboration that encompasses possible other pandemics and includes projects that will protect, develop and facilitate human life and health in the future in health, social life and education, and contribute to the business world and economy."

"Also reveals Turkey's technology, creativity and human resources potential"

Noting that most of these technologies are firsts in Turkey and some have no equivalent even in the world, Beril Alakoç stated: "These projects of ours, developed entirely as domestic and national initiatives in Turkey, are based on advanced technology and knowledge. Therefore, these projects also clearly demonstrate Turkey's technology, creativity and human resources potential. These devices, most of which are in the final stages or have begun production, are valuable not only for our country but for the world as well. The projects are attracting great interest and demand from many countries around the world, from America to Europe to Asia," emphasizing that these developed technologies are expected to make high value-added economic contributions as well as improvements in human health and living standards in Turkey and worldwide.