TechnoSphere by Atmosfer Spring 2015 | Page 3

Te c h n o S p h e r e Volume 01 | Spring 2015 Intro FROM THE DESK OF RECTOR PROF. MUSTAFA GUDEN 2015 T Izmir Institute of Technology’s Year of KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER here is something to love about every new year here at IZTECH, but with the recent investments to improve our research and development infrastructure, 2015 will be unmatched as the Year of Knowledge Transfer. As a technology institute, our mission has traditionally emphasised research and teaching. As our success in these areas has grown, IZTECH has become a significant source of knowledge for local universities and industries. We are now shifting focus to how we can more effectively share and transfer our knowledge to support and improve our relationships both here at home, and internationally. Last year, with the opening of our dedicated Atmosfer Technology Transfer Office (TTO), we began a new chapter in our ability to take acquired knowledge and apply it in practical ways to improve our community, country, and continent. This year, we will continue our commitment to new ideas and open communication, engaging and informing the local government and industry, while continuing to provide opportunities for researchers and entrepreneurs to succeed. The Knowledge and Technology Transfer process is a win-win. Society benefits from economic growth and improvements to local businesses due to the knowledge transferred from our institution. Academicians benefit from closer connections to industry and the opportunities to tackle real-world problems. Students learn new skills and build relationships with future job pro spects. Companies have greater access to laboratories and can work directly with multidisciplinary experts to solve their greatest challenges. This cycle feeds directly back to the university by increasing our international competitiveness, thus attracting more faculty and students. Solid foundations have already been laid, but we still have work to do. Now is the time to open yourself up to new ideas and begin to think creatively to develop the conditions necessary for technological innovations in Izmir and throughout Turkey. Get involved in technology transfer… read current events, attend conferences, encourage academic collaborations, meet with industry partners, patent an idea, submit a proposal, or even start a company. If you need help getting involved, Atmosfer Technology Transfer Office is available to support you every step of the way. Please contact [email protected] or visit www.atmosfertto.com and they’ll be happy to discuss the benefits with you! Sincerely Yours, www.iyte.edu.tr Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Guden TechnoSphere (3) www.atmosfertto.com