HEALTINEERING Fusion, organized by Istinye University (ISU) CONNECTOM to introduce innovativions to enhancing quality and accessibility of health services, was held on May 22 at Istinye University Vadi Main Campus. At the event, "Migratreck", a project developed for migraine patients, placed first among 15 projects.
“ISU CONNECTOM was established encourage cooperation with the sector”
During the opening speech, Associate Professor Okan Yaşar, Sector Collaboration Coordinator at ISU, discussed the structure of CONNECTOM, stating, "ISU CONNECTOM was established to promote collaboration with the industry. It integrates components our university’s Continuing Education Center, Graduate Education Center, Technology Transfer Office, research centers, faculties, vocational schools, and hospitals with the industry’s human resources, expertise, databases, and application competencies. Our goal is to develop projects that will lead to patents, product development, and the formation of start-ups."
Highlighting the increasing dominance of artificial intelligence and technology in all aspects of life, Associate Professor Yaşar discussed how artificial intelligence has changed everything from homes to healthcare and from schools to learning methods. He described the work of CONNECTOM in this context.
“Basically, we set out to see if we could combine engineering and medicine.”
MLPCARE Corporate Operations Group Coordinator Dr. Âdem Elbaşı stated, "We have been discussing collaboration between the university and the industry for 50 years but have not yet realized it. When graduates start to work in the industry, they do not have well-developed knowledge and skills. To overcome this, we set out in the early years of the university to integrate engineering with medicine. It is crucial that these seeds planted in the early years are embraced by Associate Professor Okan Yaşar."
Elbaşı said Türkiye can produce and offer services in many fields in the healthcare sector. "We use approximately 3500 materials in hospitals,” he said. “Fifteen percent of these are produced in Türkiye. We are successful in producing patient beds and operating tables and we sell them all over the world. We are also very successful in producing surgical instruments and sterilization devices. However, one area we need to develop is microscope production. We have a long way to go in software development as well."
“New ideas need to be put forward and we need to be brave”
In his speech, Prof. Dr. Erkan İbiş, the Rector of Istinye University (ISU), emphasized the importance of universities in generating new ideas and entrepreneurial projects. "Today,” he said, “We occupy a very good platform. Our colleagues will bring together engineering and health sciences. They will discuss ideas and projects. I value this work." He thanked those involved in the CONNECTOM event.
The opening speeches were followed by the introduction of project teams and a panel entitled 'Academic and Sectoral Synergy in the Digital Ecosystem.' The panel, consisting of jury members from the sector, included HISENSE Türkiye Assistant Director, Turhan Karakaya; MLP Care Digital Transformation Director, Ersan Biçkioğlu; QNB Finansbank Ibtech Project Coordinator, Metin Örnek; Vizyon College Founder, Abdülkadir Özbek; board member and digitization / artificial intelligence consultant, Yasemin Yücel Karasu; Boğaziçi University Technopark general manager, Cem Duran; and Health Informatics Association President, Yasin Keleş.
Awards
Teams worked together to develop projects during the panel and presented them at the conclusion of the panel. Three out of the 15 teams that developed projects were recognized. "Migratreck," developed for migraine patients, placed first. "Bio Sleeve”, which produces a plastic protective sleeve for dental equipment from bio waste, placed second. "Nutrikid," developed for children with Type 1 diabetes, placed third.
"This was a very important event to raise awareness among students”
Jury member and Teknopark general manager Cem Duran said the event produced more impressive projects than he expected. He stated, "Today's event was crucial for creating awareness among students. The 15 ideas presented today became a bit more refined, a bit closer to reality as students met with investors and industrialists. Academics and mentors greatly assisted the youth in identifying real problems and finding solutions."
“I am sure that these ideas will reach very valuable points.”
Digitization and artificial intelligence consultant, Yasemin Yücel Karasu said that with the advancement of technology, boundaries between industries have faded. She stated, "I am confident that the ideas generated here will be well received. Our criteria for the projects were feasibility, distinctiveness, innovation, and team commitment and dedication. All the projects were valuable. Those that can be implemented in three years or more can be considered as R&D projects, while those that will take a shorter time can be funded and implemented as commercial projects." She thanked ISU management for organizing the event.
“All projects will enter the patent and idea development process”
ISU Sector Collaboration Coordinator Assoc. Prof. Dr. Okan Yaşar stated that the event united faculties of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, health sciences, and engineering. He said, "We pursued two interests: illuminating interdisciplinary studies and uniting the university and the industry. Valuable projects were produced through the efforts of our students, academics, mentors, and industry representatives. From pharmacy to drone projects, from artificial intelligence to applications, there were many projects." He said all projects would enter the patent and idea development process.
