Noting that the İzmir Agricultural Technology Center (İTTM) is expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2024, İzmir Commodity Exchange (İTB) Secretary General Dr. Erçin Güdücü stated that the center will also make it possible to develop technologies addressing different needs in different regions of Türkiye, a major agricultural producer.
The establishment works of the İzmir Agricultural Technology Center (İTTM), which combines agriculture with technology and has been initiated under the leadership of the İzmir Commodity Exchange (İTB) in partnership with universities and public institutions in the city, have reached the final stage.
Having been involved in the project from day one and promoting İTTM and its advantages to entrepreneurs at every meeting and trade fair he attended both in Türkiye and abroad, İTB Secretary General Dr. Erçin Güdücü emphasized that the impact of agricultural technologies developed there would not be limited to İzmir. Dr. Güdücü said, “Türkiye is an important agricultural producer. At our center, it will also be possible to develop technologies tailored to different needs in different regions of our country. New production methods, localized technologies, and new cost-reducing products and services developed here will support the enhancement of our agricultural sector’s global competitiveness.”
Stating that the construction of the İTTM service building in Menemen is continuing, Dr. Güdücü said, “We are carrying out our final checks to ensure that the physical infrastructure needs of İTTM stakeholders are fully met. Unless we encounter any major setbacks, we will take delivery of the building within a few weeks and organize details such as shared-area furniture, internet infrastructure, and security systems. At the same time, the selection process for the start-ups that will conduct research and development activities at İTTM will be completed. Afterwards, İTTM will be ready for operation. Our expectation is that İTTM will become operational during the first quarter of 2024.”
Stating that the system they are developing enables matchmaking among stakeholder groups with different needs, Dr. Güdücü said, “We are working on a system through which entrepreneurs, companies, agricultural producers, agricultural machinery and equipment manufacturers, agricultural processors, researchers, and agricultural engineers that we meet at events organized together with various stakeholders can be classified according to stakeholder profiles, technology fields they use, and agricultural products they work with.”
Providing opportunities for testing under real-life conditions
Güdücü noted that thanks to the laboratories and equipment within İTTM, entrepreneurs can focus their financial resources on developing solutions rather than infrastructure investments. “From the entrepreneurs’ perspective, İTTM supports the development and commercialization of agricultural technologies by providing the physical environment, infrastructure, and business connections required for information technology-based R&D activities in the agricultural sector. Furthermore, due to its TEKMER status, entrepreneurs within the center can benefit from various tax incentives and support mechanisms provided under Law No. 5746 on Supporting Research, Development and Design Activities. Beyond these advantages, the center offers agricultural lands and application areas, enabling developed technologies to be tested under real-life conditions, on real products, and with real users. This helps entrepreneurs evaluate the effectiveness and real-world performance of their products in agricultural applications and make the necessary improvements.”
Remote membership model also available
Stating that İTTM aims to develop agricultural technologies together with the private sector, public institutions, researchers, and agricultural producers and processors who are the users of these solutions, Dr. Güdücü said, “In addition to entrepreneurs and businesses with technology-oriented ideas/projects involving R&D and product/process/service innovation focused on information technologies in agriculture, companies that can provide R&D support services, researchers, agricultural producers, and agricultural machinery manufacturers can also be part of our center. To address the different needs of companies, we offer private offices, open offices with dedicated desks, and open offices with shared desks. Finally, we also have a remote membership model that allows stakeholders interested in agricultural technologies but located far from İTTM to become part of the ecosystem and benefit from training, consultancy, networking, and similar activities.”