Novartis Türkiye and MEXT Join Forces for Healthcare Innovation

Novartis Turkey and MEXT have established a strategic partnership to transform the healthcare ecosystem through digitalization and artificial intelligence-focused solutions. As part of the collaboration, visionary entrepreneurs will be recognized at the "Health Innovation Day" to be held in Ankara on 11 June 2026.

MEXT, Turkey's digital transformation architect, and Novartis Turkey, an innovative pharmaceutical company, have signed a strategic partnership to accelerate innovation in health technologies. This strong alliance is being implemented through the "Health Innovation Program," which aims to transform Turkey's healthcare innovation ecosystem and connect entrepreneurs with key stakeholders.

Within the scope of the program, MEXT will actively contribute to the process with deep technology expertise, methodological experience, and an extensive industry network. MEXT will provide mentoring, jury membership, and content development support with a focus on digital transformation and artificial intelligence, while also playing a strategic partner role in the program's communication activities and networking processes.

The most critical milestone of the collaboration will be the "Health Innovation Day" to be held in Ankara on 11 June 2026. In this competition bringing together the public, academic, financial, and technology sectors, finalist entrepreneurs will present innovative solutions to the jury that increase access to healthcare services, improve patient experience, and trigger digital transformation. Winning entrepreneurs will have access to specialized training, business development meetings, and long-term partnership opportunities.

Novartis Turkey Country President Serkan Barış:
"Real transformation in the healthcare ecosystem is possible through strong collaborations and a shared vision among researchers, academia, industry representatives, and institutions. As Novartis, through the 'Health Innovation Program,' we are integrating Turkey's local talent into our global innovation network. This program positions Turkey as an innovation center, while enabling us to shape global solutions that turn innovative ideas from around the world into tangible improvements for patients. Our goal is to redesign medicine with digital technologies and determine tomorrow's healthcare standards today."

MEXT General Director Efe Erdem:
"Through this collaboration with Novartis, we aim to bring the transformative power of artificial intelligence in healthcare to life through concrete projects. With the 'Pharma AI Lab' for which we have conducted preliminary analyses to establish within MEXT, we want to introduce artificial intelligence applications in R&D processes, medical imaging, and pharmaceutical processes to Turkey's ecosystem. Within the scope of the Health Innovation Program, we are positioning the Health Innovation Day that we will hold on 11 June, which will bring together entrepreneurs, academia, industry stakeholders, and institutions, not only as a demonstration area but as a starting point where solutions will be tested and implemented. Through this initiative, we aim to support the rapid commercialization of healthcare technologies developed in Turkey and their access to global ecosystems."

Novartis Turkey, with the vision of redesigning medicine, is pioneering the Health Innovation Program and connecting visionary entrepreneurs, key stakeholders, and investors to transform the healthcare ecosystem. As part of the collaboration, in subsequent periods, MEXT may serve as an artificial intelligence partner in the digital transformation projects Novartis will carry out in metropolitan and public hospitals.