The second R&D Marathon Acceleration Program, coordinated by the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) and organized in collaboration between Yeşilırmak Electricity Distribution (YEDAŞ) and the Ondokuz Mayıs University Technology Transfer Office (OMU-TTO), has found its winners in the final event.

The ceremony, held at the Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Multipurpose Hall, was attended by OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Yavuz Ünal, OMU-TTO Coordinator Dr. İdris Sancaktar, Samsun Technopark Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mevlüt Gürbüz, YEDAŞ Distribution Director Ümit Yaşar Kışla, Vice Rector of Sinop University Muhitdin Yılmaz, academics, and students.

Under the slogan "Illuminate with Your Idea," the program, supported by the Energy Market Regulatory Board (EPDK), invited students, academics, and startups to participate with their prototype-level projects. The program aims to realize R&D project ideas that offer innovative, technological, locally-based, economical, and environmentally friendly solutions in the Electricity Distribution Sector and Distribution Technologies.

Out of 72 project ideas submitted to the program, 16 made it to the final. Finalists received preliminary mentorship training. During the mentorship phase, training was provided in various areas, including project types, EPDK, TEDAŞ, Ministry of Energy regulations, data reading processes, identifying needs within distribution companies, current situation analysis, invention concepts, patentability conditions, patent registration processes, presentation language and techniques, and effective speaking.

Rector Prof. Dr. Yavuz Ünal: "Transforming Contestants' Ideas into Projects Is a Significant Success"

The final event of the second R&D Marathon Acceleration Program, coordinated by the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) and a collaboration between Yeşilırmak Electricity Distribution (YEDAŞ) and Ondokuz Mayıs University's Technology Transfer Office (OMU-TTO), has awarded its winners. The ceremony took place in the Multipurpose Hall of Samsun Metropolitan Municipality and was attended by notable figures, including OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Yavuz Ünal, OMU-TTO Coordinator Dr. İdris Sancaktar, Samsun Technopark Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mevlüt Gürbüz, YEDAŞ Distribution Director Ümit Yaşar Kışla, Vice Rector of Sinop University Muhitdin Yılmaz, alongside academics and students.

Launching with the slogan "Illuminate with Your Idea" and supported by the Energy Market Regulatory Board (EPDK), the program invited students, academics, and startups to participate with their prototype-level projects. The initiative aims to generate R&D project ideas that offer innovative, technological, locally-based, economical, and environmentally friendly solutions in the Electricity Distribution Sector and Distribution Technologies.

Out of 72 project ideas submitted, 16 reached the final, with finalists receiving preliminary mentorship training. The training covered various areas, including project types, regulations from EPDK, TEDAŞ, the Ministry of Energy, data reading, identifying needs within distribution companies, current situation analysis, invention concepts, patentability, patent registration processes, presentation language and techniques, and effective speaking.

"All Projects in the Competition Are Valuable to Us"

YEDAŞ Distribution Director Ümit Yaşar concluded his speech by highlighting the competition as a platform where unique and impactful projects challenging the limits of science and technology were showcased. "These projects reflect not only the competition's potential but also our country's capacity in R&D and innovation. Every project in this competition is valuable to us. I wholeheartedly congratulate these young entrepreneurs for their projects that will greatly contribute to our sector."

After the speeches, awards were presented to the winning project owners. Kadir Mert Döleker won the first prize of 50,000 TL for his project "Enhancing the Corrosion Resistance of Electric Pole Structures with Waste Slag Materials." Özgür Demircan, Onur Fakı, and Emir Yıldırım secured the second prize of 30,000 TL with their project "Development of Non-Flammable PVC Composite Cable with Mycelium-Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)-Silane Additive." Recep Çakmak and Burhan Hükümen received the third prize of 15,000 TL for their project "High Structural Immunity to Electromagnetic Interference, Low Power Consumption, Wide Band Local Voltage Sensor."