At the 8th Istanbul International Invention Fair (ISIF'23), where a total of 424 inventions, both domestic and international, were showcased, Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) achieved remarkable success by securing a total of 10 medals – 1 gold, 4 silver, and 5 bronze, along with an exclusive award.

Rector Prof. Dr. Yavuz Ünal presented a Certificate of Appreciation and university gifts to the academicians who made OMU proud with their achievements.

The ceremony, held in the Rectorate Senate Hall, was attended by Rector Ünal, along with Vice-Rectors Prof. Dr. Selim Eren, Prof. Dr. Sevim Alışır, Prof. Dr. Murat Terzi, and the award-winning academics.

Rector Ünal: "TEKNOFEST Created an Opportunity for OMU"

During the ceremony celebrating the award winners' achievements, Rector Prof. Dr. Yavuz Ünal extended his congratulations to all the academics and researchers who have honored our university with their awards. He expressed his hope that the innovative technologies they have developed will contribute to OMU's goal of becoming a "Research University" and lead to significant socio-economic gains through commercialization. 

Rector Ünal emphasized the significance of TEKNOFEST for OMU, saying, "TEKNOFEST has provided an opportunity for OMU. I once used an expression to describe the importance of the fair: 'We will use TEKNOFEST as a Trojan horse.' In line with this, our university has undertaken various initiatives. Furthermore, our support has significantly increased the quality and quantity of school projects under the Ministry of National Education. Through project-based education, our university has taken on a pioneering role."

"Project Culture Must Be Popularized at the Undergraduate Level"

Rector Ünal stressed the importance of not viewing the fair solely as an aim to receive awards. He stated, "The real essence lies in the effort put forth. The project culture needs to become more widespread at the undergraduate level. As a university, we aspire to have a strong research and development (R&D) culture, making it a compelling choice for students. If a high school student is already thinking about R&D, it should be nurtured into a conscious choice. OMU has made significant improvements in its rankings. The university boasts a 100% enrollment rate, and postgraduate education will be vital in supporting these efforts. We will completely revise postgraduate education after September. We see this as an essential action we must take to make OMU a research university."

Vice-Rector Alışır: "Our Goal is the Transformation of Knowledge into Products"

Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Sevim Alışır remarked, "In previous years, we have had significant achievements at ISIF as well. However, this year, we have substantially increased the number of awards. Our academics received 10 patents and 11 awards. As a university, our ultimate goal in all our endeavors is the transformation of knowledge into products. Commercialized products, in particular, hold great importance for us. We continue to prioritize our processes in R&D, and we are taking significant steps in both project development and university-industry collaboration. Our faculty members are leading substantial projects, especially in the field of green transformation, and we maintain collaborations with other institutions both regionally and internationally. We aim to promote these projects in our region and on the global stage."

The ceremony concluded with a commemorative photograph.

About ISIF'23

ISIF'23, hosted by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRK PATENT), in collaboration with the International Federation of Inventors' Associations (IFIA), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and the European Patent Office (EPO), took place from April 27th to May 1st, 2023, as part of the Istanbul TEKNOFEST Aerospace, Space, and Technology Festival. ISIF'23 was held within the TEKNOFEST framework at Istanbul Atatürk Airport, showcasing a total of 424 inventions, with 286 domestic and 138 international innovations from 31 different countries.

Gold Medal and Macedonia Special Award

• From the Department of Mechanical Engineering at OMU's Faculty of Engineering, Research Assistant Dr. Erkan Öztürk and Semih Kaygusuz were awarded the Gold Medal and the Special Award from Macedonia for their invention titled "Ignition and Trigger Mechanism for Firearms."

Silver Medal Winners:

• "Production of Nanoparticles with Green Synthesis and Biopolymer Film Material Containing Plant Extracts for the Healthcare Field" (Instructor Arife Kübra Yontar, Dr. Sinem Çevik)

• "Next-Generation Myoma Uteri Ecarteur for Laparoscopic Myomectomy Surgery" (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdülkadir Bakay, Dr. Mehmet Faruk Ölçenoğlu, Dr. Onur Yontar)

• "A Composite Material Produced from Waste Rubber Tires and Hemp, and Its Production Method" (Dr. Arife Şimşek, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gökhan Demir, Prof. Dr. Sevim Alışır, Prof. Dr. Engin Burgaz, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özgür Demircan, Prof. Dr. Selim Aytaç)

• "Atmospheric Carbon Capture System" (Instructor Hakan Bülbül, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özgür Baytut, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Ekber Özdemir)

Bronze Medal Winners:

• "Hybrid Apparatus Suitable for Conventional Feeding in Beekeeping Colonies" (Instructor Yusuf Yakut, Instructor Harun Çolak, Onur Baş)

• "Polymeric Composite Film Exhibiting Adhesion and Healing Properties on Wet Surfaces" (Prof. Dr. Feza Geyikçi; Nisa Aydın)

• "Adaptive Slicing and Variable Adhesive Spray Method in Adhesive Spraying Technique" (Research Assistant Hasan Baş, Prof. Dr. Fatih Yapıcı; Dr. İbrahim İnanç)

• "Antifungal, Anti-inflammatory, and Antibacterial Biocomposite Wound Cover and Its Production Method" (Prof. Dr. Sevim Alışır, Prof. Dr. Abdurrahman Aksoy, Ayyüce Baş)

• "System Enhancing the Efficiency of Heat Transfer Under the Influence of Rotary Magnetic Force" (Dr. Fevzi Şahin, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lütfü Namlı)