“Kocaeli University and Turkish Pharmaceutical Industry Meeting” was held with the cooperation of Industry and Technology Ministry Kocaeli Provincial Directorate, TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center (MAM), Kocaeli University, Kocaeli Chamber of Industry and Kocaeli University Technology Transfer Office on 12 March 2020 at the Senate Hall in the Umuttepe Campus of Kocaeli University.
The meeting was attended by Kocaeli University Rector Prof. Sadettin HÜLAGÜ, TÜBİTAK MAM President Prof. İbrahim KILIÇASLAN, Industry and Technology Ministry Kocaeli Provincial Director Mr. İlhan AYDIN, Kocaeli University Vice Rectors Prof. Ercüment ÇİFTÇİ and Prof. Nilgün FIĞLALI, academicians and pharmaceutical sector representatives.
“Kocaeli University is Ready and Willing to be the Pioneer of R&D in Kocaeli intertwined with Industry.”
Opening speech of the meeting was made by the Kocaeli University Rector Prof. Sadettin HÜLAGÜ. Expressing that he believed the meeting would make great contributions to research and development, he added “I have stated many times in various media and meetings that the ultimate goal of Kocaeli University is to become a research university and contribute to the R&D of Turkey. On the occasion of a meeting of such competent and experienced people in Turkey, I would like to reiterate this goal again. Since we took office; we took significant steps in making arrangements to facilitate studies and to improve the research environments, especially the physical conditions, of our university. Now, our infrastructural needs have been largely met compared to the day we took office, and it's time to achieve a qualified vertical growth. Human resources, which have already been of very good quality, especially in the fields of Medicine and Engineering, have been further improved and technical possibilities and capacities have been enhanced. In this context, our university is ready and willing to play a pioneering role in R&D in Kocaeli, which is intertwined with industry. The preparation, realization and functionalization of research centers are undoubtedly very important processes; however, it is crucial for research centers to meet the right stakeholders, so that they can realize their main goals. It is a great pleasure to see that the most important stakeholders in this field are gathered in our meeting today; which is also an indicator that we are on the right track towards R&D. Because, with new understandings, the university has taken on a structure that not only provides education but also actively participates in research and development activities and keeps strong and uninterrupted ties with its stakeholders in the industry. I believe that today's meeting will contribute to the industry of our country, the research potential of our university and the economic power of our state by bringing our university's vision of being a pioneer in the field of research and development together with the leading stakeholders of our industry.”
Referring to the study fields of TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center (MAM), the TÜBİTAK MAM President Prof. İbrahim KILIÇASLAN said: “We have more than one thousand researchers around half of which have PhD degrees. MAM is a state-run research center, which is yours. We have a nearly complete infrastructure. At MAM, we have studies on herbal products, biological and chemical agents and biomaterials. Our infrastructure is solid, however we need colleagues who work hard and create new ideas. Our infrastructure is available for use for new ideas.”
Emphasizing the importance of public-university cooperation, the Industry and Technology Ministry Kocaeli Provincial Director Mr. İlhan AYDIN said: “Regarding public-university cooperation, we have signed agreements with 106 sectors with the support of the Kocaeli University Rector Prof. Sadettin HÜLAGÜ. And today’s agreement is a first in Turkey. Namely, the Turkish Pharmaceutical Sector Meeting is a first in Turkey. In line with this meeting, our goal is to enrich Turkey through products with high added-value.”
During the meeting that was attended by leading pharmaceutical companies, Prof. Selam KEÇELİ, Prof. Tijen UTKAN, Prof. Murat KASAP, Prof. Yusufhan YAZIR, Assoc. Prof. Naci ÇİNE and Prof. İpek KOMŞUOĞLU ÇELİKYURT made informative presentations respectively on “Drug Research in Microbiology”, “DETAP”, “Protein Research and Proteomics”, “KÖGEM”, “Holistic Approach to Genome” and “Phase-1 Installations”.
The event was finalized with on-site visits to laboratories and a lunch with the participants.
