Why Ecosystems Matter

Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation — it thrives in ecosystems. These interconnected environments bring together entrepreneurs, researchers, universities, investors, and public institutions to share knowledge, reduce risk, and accelerate growth. When these actors collaborate across borders, new opportunities emerge for solving global challenges, scaling ventures, and building resilient economies.

Through the ExcellEnt project, we create these connections — supporting the internationalization of European innovation by organizing Soft-Landing Missions that give stakeholders direct access to new markets, best practices, and community-driven insights.

Soft-Landing Mission to Türkiye: Firsthand Experience of a Fast-Growing Tech Ecosystem

In May 2025, a delegation of 19 participants from Ukraine, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania — including university representatives, technopark managers, and entrepreneurs — joined a two-day ExcellEnt Soft-Landing Mission to Türkiye. The goal: to explore one of the region’s most developed, well-funded, and open innovation ecosystems.

The mission began at Sabancı University’s Minerva Han in Istanbul, where participants took part in an engaging session on the evolution of Türkiye’s entrepreneurship landscape, followed by an icebreaker to encourage cross-country networking.

At Sabancı Holding headquarters, home to the ARF corporate incubator, participants explored the role of corporate venture capital in supporting early-stage startups. Many were pleased to learn that international entrepreneurs can apply to ARF programs and funding.

The group then visited Yıldız Technical University’s incubator and YTU Teknopark, where they witnessed the scale of Türkiye’s incubation infrastructure. Access to free prototyping equipment, co-working spaces, and startup services sparked strong interest — with several participants inquiring about registering companies locally.

At MEXT, Türkiye’s flagship digital factory, the group explored Industry 4.0 in action — robotics, AI, and simulation technologies offering a practical demonstration of smart manufacturing.

The visit to Sabancı University’s SuCOOL incubator offered additional insights into how university collaborations are nurtured in Türkiye. Participants learned about commercialization pathways, state-recognized entrepreneurial programs, and graduate opportunities — all within a campus that blends advanced research with green, community-oriented design.

The final stop was TÜBİTAK Marmara Teknokent, where participants explored deeptech incubation programs and national funding opportunities provided through Türkiye’s premier research council. For many, this level of public support was unmatched compared to their home ecosystems.

This Soft-Landing Mission delivered more than site visits — it offered new perspectives, concrete connections, and a clearer understanding of how local ecosystems function at the intersection of research, business, and policy. It’s exactly the kind of bridge-building that the *ExcellEnt* project is designed to enable.