The kick-off meeting of ‘Istanbul Information Society Watchdog Group’ Project, which is conducted by Turkish Informatics Foundation (TBV), was realized in Istanbul on 10th August, 2011.
‘Istanbul Information Society Watchdog Group Project’ of TBV is funded by Istanbul Development Agency (ISTKA) within 2010 Information-oriented Economic Development Financial Programme. The main objective of this project is to provide the democratization of the R&D and Innovation Policy establishment progresses which will increase the competitiveness in ICT sector, to support the appropriation of the EU Acquis and in this way to contribute to the socio-economic development in Istanbul, in cooperation with NGOs, Universities and public authorizations in Istanbul. Within the 2010 Financial Support Programmes of ISTKA, 388 project applications were made and 106 projects, including the project of TBV, were awarded to be funded. In this respect, TBV signed the grant agreement with ISTKA and the project officially started on 21st July, 2011. TBV is carrying out the project activities with Sabancı University (partner of the project) and Turkey Informatics Industry Association (TUBISAD – the subcontractor of the project).
After the agreement signed, TBV organized the kick-of meeting of the project inIstanbul on 10th August, 2011 to give the start for the project activities which will last for 12 months. The kick-off meeting was realized with the participation of the project team and the other responsible persons; Faruk Eczacıbaşı (TBV President), Behçet Envarlı (The General Secretary of TBV, Industry Expert of the project), Leyla Arsan (Board Member of TBV, Project Coordinator of the project), Edip Emil Öymen (The Consultant of TBV, Media and Communication Coordinator of the project), Cemil Arıkan (Director of Research and Graduate Policy of Sabancı University, Watchdog Group Coordinator of the project), Selçuk Karaata (Deputy Director of TUSIAD Sabancı University Competitiveness Forum, the Academic Expert of the project), Gurbet Deniz Yavuz (Projects Consultant of TAGES, the Activity Coordinator of the project), Aslıhan Kağnıcı (Assistant Consultant of TAGES) and Ayşegül Kulu (Brand Supervisor of UNITE). During the meeting, a general evaluation on the project activities and the results of the project was made by considering the special objectives of the project and according to this; the detailed plan of the project activities was made. All of the participants of the meeting indicated their thoughts and opinions about how these activities should be realized to complete them in a successful way and to create the most efficient results. The key points of the project activities such as defining the indicators and developing a database for monitoring of Istanbul ICT R&D and Innovation processes and creating the Watchdog Group were addressed and the action plan was created. The project team also decided to organize a more comprehensive meeting on 14th September, 2011 by providing the participation of ISTKA, Press and the target group of the project to announce that the project activities has started and disseminate the objectives of the project and emphasize its importance for Istanbul.
