Teknopark İstanbul Supports Domestic Medical Device Production in Fight Against COVID-19

Last week, Invenoa, which operates on our campus, qualified to receive TRY 20,000 in support at the Coronathon event organized with the backing of the Ministry of Industry and Technology and related institutions. The Medibook project, which received the support, is an e-health platform that provides video healthcare services end-to-end from the location of people who cannot go to hospitals due to the COVID-19 pandemic and have chronic illnesses/require monitoring, and also enables data tracking of quarantined patients. This platform is important work for both citizens' and physicians' health. We will work to the best of our ability to implement such projects in our Technopark," he said.

ISEK's priority target will be domestic medical device production capacity

The health sector, which is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, is experiencing quite active times. While each country acts according to its own needs and potential in combating the virus, Turkey is considered to have considerable medical device potential. ISEK, carried out under Teknopark Istanbul coordination within the scope of the Ministry of Industry and Technology Clustering Support Program, is conducting studies to reveal domestic medical device production capacity in Turkey. The cluster provides support to companies that are making preparations to bring diagnostic, intensive care support, respiratory support materials and personal protective equipment to the market in response to the pandemic.

ISEK leads Turkey's fight against COVID-19

ISEK, which operates to implement high-technology R&D work in the health sciences field in Turkey, has stakeholders that include 19 universities, 175 companies, 3 public institutions and 13 civil society organizations operating in the Istanbul Region. ISEK, which carries out work to position Turkey as a leader in advanced health technologies, also leads the emergence of successful efforts in combating COVID-19. The cluster, which aims to produce innovative social and logistical solutions to the problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and also supports an online Coronathon event together with institutions such as the Ministry of Industry and Technology, acts in coordination with many health clusters across the country and exchanges ideas.

Domestic production is being supported in the fight against COVID-19

ISEK, which established the Health Clusters Platform together with several health clusters last year, is making intensive efforts regarding the COVID-19 agenda, particularly in supporting domestic production based on need, identifying relevant companies and implementing emergency action plans by contacting public authorities. Additionally, ISEK, which is working to establish a crisis desk at the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate, is also directing relevant groups to the Ministry of Health on the matter of disease modeling related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking into account that waiting periods for raw materials have increased due to problems and delays in critical components coming from abroad due to COVID-19, the cluster brings together companies working in this field and developing IT-based solutions and supports them in carrying out coordinated work with the Ministry of Health.

Masks can be produced to N95 quality

The incubation centre of Teknopark Istanbul, which is positioned as an innovation hub in Turkey's focus technology areas, is experiencing active times within the scope of COVID-19. Bacpolyzyme Bioengineering, which conducts R&D work at Cube Incubation, is currently carrying out critical work to increase the protective quality of masks normally produced by integrating biomaterial that is completely biologically compatible and approved by the FDA as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) to the section of the mask in contact with the face, thereby filtering both viral and microbial contaminants in the air. The company is preparing to produce nano-scale material so that masks produced for COVID-19 are N95 quality.

Oxygen production in confined environments may be possible

Strategic Innovators, working at Cube Incubation, is conducting an important project within the scope of the World Health Organization's call for oxygen production on home and field use of known oxygen production techniques. If the project, which is in the concept phase, receives support, it can make oxygen production possible even in areas without electricity. The company, which plans separate work for home environments and for environments without electricity, can move to serial production after a 6-month trial period.