We brought Turkey into the global events chain for the first time with Hello Tomorrow, a global initiative supported personally by important figures such as Michael Bloomberg, former NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin, and Emmanuel Macron. During the sector meeting we organized in collaboration with Sabancı University International Energy and Climate Center (IICEC), we brought together 600 distinguished innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, and industry leaders from Turkey and around the world. The event in Istanbul was part of the global summit that took place in Paris on October 13-14, as part of events in 10 cities worldwide.
Energy-focused startups participating in the conference from various parts of Turkey and the world also had the opportunity to present their products and services in this area and to explain their contributions to the transformation in energy.
Deputy Minister Dr. Hasan Ali Çelik emphasized that as a government, they attach great importance to expanding the pool of entrepreneurs, but pointed out the importance of increasing the number of individuals who integrate innovation and entrepreneurship, namely techno-entrepreneurs, within this expanding pool. Çelik noted that they have further improved the conditions of the support program related to Techno-Entrepreneurship in the government's R&D Reform Package, stating that promoting alternative financing models such as venture capital funds and angel investment is among their top priorities.
International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol, in his video message, emphasized that clean energy has gone beyond being a moral value and has become a necessity for companies, highlighting the important and dynamic role of the startups brought together by Hello Tomorrow. Birol stated, “I believe that Turkey is ready to play a leading role in the energy transformation with its young, dynamic, and technology-friendly population, entrepreneurial spirit, and growing startup infrastructure.”