A ‘Smart City’ consists of effectively integrated digital and human systems designed to offer citizens a sustainable, prosperous, and participatory future. Encompassing numerous industries, the ‘Smart City’ is an umbrella concept that covers sectors such as ICT (Information and Communication Technologies), energy, transportation, education, healthcare, the environment, architecture, urban and regional planning, and finance. We believe that ICT is a crucial building block that acts as a catalyst in bringing these sectors together to create integrated ‘Smart City’ solutions that deliver added value.
As the NOVUSENS Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute, we established the ‘Smart Cities Institute’ on February 4, 2014 (www.akillisehirenstitusu.com). Functioning as both a ‘Think Tank’ and a ‘Do Tank,’ our vision is to contribute to the economic and social well-being of cities and regions nationwide by enhancing ‘Innovation and Entrepreneurship’ capacities within the context of ‘Smart Cities’ and by implementing Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models. Covering sectors such as ICT, Energy, Transportation, Education, Healthcare, Environment, Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning, and Finance, our Institute carries out the following activities: collaborating with the public sector, private sector, universities, NGOs, and SMEs to develop the ‘Smart Cities’ ecosystem; forging local and global strategic partnerships; contributing to policy-making efforts; conducting and publishing strategic research projects; and providing professional consultancy services designing and implementing industry-focused solutions / ‘Proof of Concept’ projects / Pre-implementation pilot projects / Large-scale implementation projects / Organizing regular topic-specific events and awareness-raising activities. Actively working on ‘Smart Cities’ projects within the scope of H2020, our Institute collaborates closely with countries such as the Netherlands and Spain—nations that have developed exemplary practices in this field and prioritized innovation. Our Institute continues its work by expanding both domestic and international collaborations.

Berrin Benli, Co-Founder of NOVUSENS Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute