High added value production focusing on knowledge-intensive and innovation, increases the competitiveness of both companies and countries. World Economic Forum Competitiveness Report (2016-2017) ranks Turkey 55th out of 135 countries. In order to strengthen the position in Turkey's competitiveness, there is need for innovative researches to transform into product or service commercialization.

The number of patent applications and projects supported by national programmes in Izmir is rather low compared with Ankara and Istanbul, commercialization of R&D and innovation studies is also relatively low. One of the main problems of Izmir ecosystem is the fact that support services such as technology licensing and product development provided by interface institutions have not reached the desired level and that internationalization is rather low. Technopark İzmir is carrying out the İzmir Network and Innovation Center (İzmir NIC) Project in order to commercialize its R&D studies and respond to market needs. The Project aiming at affecting various fields is expected to support SMEs and scaleups entrepreneurs in establishing cooperation with the industry, increasing technology preperatory levels of the products, and ensure investors have access to innovative products with market potential.  The objective is to ensure internationalization and commercialization of innovative products through strategic partnerships with entrepreneurs and interface organizations (technology transfer offices, technology development zones).

The Project focuses on the pioneers of economic development which are information and communication technologies and renewable energy sector aiming at improving the innovation capacity through training, consultancy and international networking activities. İzmir NIC supports innovative aspects of SMEs and scaleups and facilitates the access to international markets in order to increase their export capacities. With Turkey’s one of a kind innovative software “NIC Hub”, the application, evaluation and selection processes of the programs to be opened in order to benefit from services such as training, consultancy and mentoring within the scope of the project; commercialization roadmaps for selected SMEs and scaleups will be created; an online infrastructure will be developed where coach and mentor processes can be monitored.

Within the scope of İzmir NIC, the establishment of 18 structure such as technology transfer offices, technology development zones, incubator and other interface organizations will be supported until the end of 2024. 100 SMEs, startups, scaleups and entrepreneurs will benefit from thematic trainings, networking activities and information events. Two calls for proposals will be designed to identify SMEs with products with commercialization potential, and 50 SMEs, scaleups selected from focus sectors will receive support for commercialization and internationalization. Two calls will be designed to identify SMEs and scaleups with products with commercialization potential, and 50 SMEs and scaleups selected from the focus sectors will receive support for commercialization and internationalization. As a result of the supports, consultancy will be carried out for the successful commercialization of at least two products. Legal support will be provided for various activities, especially 3 national patents.

İzmir Network and Innovation Center will contribute to socio-economic development of İzmir with the establishment of a structure where innovation-oriented companies can access the consultancy they require for carring their researches to markets.