Brisa Technology and Impact Center Opens in Aksaray
Foreks - Brisa has launched a Technology and Impact Center in Aksaray, aimed at providing young people with invaluable skills akin to a golden bracelet, offering them the opportunity to experience new technologies firsthand and supporting innovative ideas. This initiative will motivate youth to engage in development, technology, and entrepreneurship.
Following in the footsteps of the great leader Atatürk, who said, “My only hope is in youth,” the Sabancı Group is laying the foundations for a new social entrepreneurship model across Turkey, continuing to spread the Sabancı Youth Mobilization across various provinces. The 4th center was opened in the Technopark area at Aksaray University. Brisa, a company of the Sabancı Group, in collaboration with Aksaray University, will focus on innovative and smart technologies that align with Brisa's mobility transformation journey.
The opening of the Brisa Technology and Impact Center was attended by Aksaray University Rector Prof. Dr. Alpay Arıbaş, Sabancı Holding CEO Cenk Alper, Sabancı Holding Mobility Solutions Group President Cevdet Alemdar, Brisa CEO Haluk Kürkçü, as well as numerous academics and students. The center will primarily benefit students aged 18-34, particularly those studying Software Engineering, Electrical-Electronics Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Chemical & Chemical Processing Technologies at Aksaray University, along with researchers and young entrepreneurs.
During the press conference, Aksaray University Rector Prof. Dr. Alpay Arıbaş stated, “The intersection of scientifically valuable knowledge and industry not only produces new technologies but also contributes significantly to a city's and its society's economic and social development. Collaboration between universities and industry is a cornerstone of the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, one of the greatest opportunities of our time. We value all activities to be conducted in this context at Aksaray University and believe it will open new horizons for our students. We think that the Brisa Technology and Impact Center, as a tangible product of University-Industry collaboration, will fill gaps in the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Aksaray. The opening of such a center by Sabancı Holding, one of the flagship companies of our country's industry, and a company like Brisa that significantly contributes to the national economy, makes us proud. Nurturing young entrepreneurs in such an impact center will accelerate economic development in the region, increase the number of qualified workforce, and contribute to the emergence of a production culture focused on technology and innovation.”
Regarding the 4th center in the Youth Mobilization, Sabancı Holding CEO Cenk Alper emphasized their goal of providing courage and hope to the youth, stating, “Talent wars have begun across the globe. Unfortunately, today, as Turkey, we are in a position of net emigration rather than being a recipient of talent. To reverse this situation, we must dedicate all our efforts to developing more innovative and value-added products. The Sabancı Youth Mobilization started with this goal, and as the Sabancı Group, we have embarked on a journey to turn 'brain drain into brain power.' We are spreading our Technology and Impact Centers throughout Turkey. Believing in, trusting, and continuously supporting young people forms the core philosophy of these centers. We are launching our 4th center in Aksaray, where one of Brisa's key technology bases is located. Within three years, we aim to open a total of 35 centers in Turkey and two abroad, reaching a total of 30,000 youths.”
Cenk Alper recalled that they have embarked on a mission to mobilize Sabancı's technological strength and innovation network for youths, stating, “The Brisa Technology and Impact Center will be a place where young people can directly witness technological power. For Brisa, technology has been a way of life for years in both production processes and all processes interacting with our customers. Today, Brisa's factory in Aksaray serves as a role model production base that contributes to enhancing our country’s international competitiveness. Moreover, Brisa is no longer just a tire manufacturer for Sabancı; it is now a mobility company. Preparing for the future with mobility transformation, our company focuses on developing new-generation end-to-end services by using massive volumes of data from all vehicles in motion on the roads, and it is increasingly spreading these services. At this center, Brisa will share its technological expertise with young people while equipping them with the skills of the future, supported by accredited and certified training, and including them in projects developed with smart technologies at the Aksaray factory. By encouraging young people, this center will also lead to the concrete realization of new ideas in line with mobility transformation, fostering a cultural transformation as well.”
In his speech at the opening of the Brisa Technology and Impact Center, Brisa CEO Haluk Kürkçü stated, “As Brisa, our goal is to become a leader in mobility as we move towards 2030. We approach this as a holistic transformation. While growing our tire business with investments in products for the future of mobility, we are also developing our mobility solutions with new business and service models. Our production processes are, of course, evolving. Today, we produce a tire every 2 seconds in Brisa factories. In order to manage this mobility most efficiently, we focus on intelligent, innovative technologies. For these to materialize, we primarily need human movement, competence, and development. Being by the side of young people in every action they take and preparing them for the future is very valuable for us. This forms the basis of the spirit of the Sabancı Youth Mobilization. At the Brisa Technology and Impact Center, we are mobilizing young people for development, technology, and innovation.”
Regarding the planned activities at the Brisa Technology and Impact Center, Kürkçü mentioned, “First and foremost, we aim to equip young people with new-generation skills at our center. By opening access to the broad educational portfolio of our Brisa Transformation Academy, we will enhance the qualifications of students in critical areas of our time, such as artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and cybersecurity, as well as carbon footprint measurement, sustainability expertise, and accredited and certified training. Additionally, we will open our doors and working environments to students, enabling them to combine theory with practice. Students we will work with through short and long-term internship programs will actively participate in projects in our factory and will have the opportunity to experience our company's infrastructure defined as Industry 4.0. Furthermore, we have also positioned our Centers as incubation spaces. In this way, students or entrepreneurs with an innovative idea will be able to design prototypes with the technological resources we offer. Particularly in the fields of mobility and sustainability, we will create opportunities for collaboration and joint work with entrepreneurs.”
At the opening event of the Brisa Technology and Impact Center, Arvento CEO Özer Hıncal also met with students and shared his experiences in entrepreneurship. Hıncal recounted inspiring entrepreneurial stories, detailing how he became an entrepreneur, the challenges he faced, and how he overcame them. While explaining the essentials of a successful entrepreneurial journey, he emphasized the importance of thinking like an entrepreneur and encouraged young people to realize their innovative ideas. He also noted that the entrepreneurial spirit is critical not only in the business world but in every aspect of life to make a difference.
Students Generate New Ideas for Mobility
Students attending the opening of the Brisa Technology and Impact Center also participated in an idea marathon under the mentorship of Brisa employees and management. A total of 60 students developed innovative ideas for sustainable mobility in 10 teams and presented their projects to a jury consisting of Brisa's senior management. The winning team was awarded a technical tour experience at the Brisa Aksaray Factory, while all participating students were granted access to the online training portfolio of the Brisa Transformation Academy.
During the event, an entrepreneurship experience area was created, and Brisa's work in this area was shared with the youth.
Activities at the Brisa Technology and Impact Center will focus on the following:
Brisa Transformation Academy will provide digital and green skills to students through accredited and certified training in digitization, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. Additionally, students will be supported with personal development-focused training.
Through short and long-term internship programs, students will be actively involved from start to finish in ongoing projects at Brisa factories, interact closely with the Brisa team, and have the opportunity to reflect their theoretical knowledge in practice.
Brisa will collaborate with start-ups in partnership with Aksaray University, providing support in areas such as inspirational talks and mentorship.
Idea marathons and competitions will be organized where students and entrepreneurs can showcase their talents and win awards.
Entrepreneurs will be able to use this center as an Incubator Center, especially creating collaboration and partnership opportunities in the fields of mobility and sustainability towards the continuity of movement.