For the first time, the German-Turkish Innovation Award honors projects of German-Turkish cooperation. In addition to Evreka, the Munich-based startup ProGlove also receives an award.
On March 16, 2017, the second German-Turkish Innovation Summit concluded in Istanbul. The two-day event once again brought together decision-makers and leading experts from technology-oriented manufacturing companies and research and development institutions from both countries. This year, the focus was on the digitalization of production with "Industry 4.0." The summit was sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education.
"Industry 4.0 is a radical phase of change. The manufacturing sector has already begun to be guided by artificial intelligence, automation, and robotics, and we are all wondering what the next step will be,"
explained Hülya Gedik, CEO of Gedik Holding, addressed the summit's central question for Turkish industry in her opening speech. German experts such as Dr. Jan Bredau from the Esslingen-based automation specialist Festo and Prof. Yves-Simon Gloy from the Institute of Textile Management at RWTH Aachen University were able to provide initial answers in interactive panel discussions.
Special price for startups
During the summit, special prizes were also awarded in the "Startup" category. The "Startup Turkey" award went to Evreka from Ankara. The "Startup Germany" award was presented ProGlove from Munich.
Three Turkish and three German startups each had the chance to win their respective national trophies for the two special prizes. The award-winners, from the Turkish company Evreka, impressed the jury with an innovation in the field of waste disposal and urban cleaning. Sensors in garbage containers measure the fill level, thus reducing the effort required for inspection trips. The concept also enables long-term planning.
Meanwhile, ProGlove took home the award with its intelligent glove. The glove, with its integrated scanner and direct display, makes work in the warehouse or production easier, faster, and safer.
A lot of courage to implement ideas
Given the innovative strength of the nominated companies, the jury had anything but an easy time deciding on the winners.
“The diversity and wealth of ideas that our nominated startups demonstrate with their innovations prove that there is a lot of courage in both Germany and Turkey to implement and realize ideas,”
so Prof. Dr. F. Lehmann from Mercedes-Benz, who was involved in the decision-making process as a juror.
