The Power of Intellectual Property Was Discussed at the World Intellectual Property Day Event Organized in Cooperation with Entertech İstanbul Teknokent and TÜRKPATENT: Sports, Technology, and Investment Came Together on the Same Axis

At the event hosted by Entertech İstanbul Teknokent, the transformative role of intellectual property within the sports, technology, and investment ecosystem was discussed. Organized in cooperation with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, the program focused on the protection of knowledge and its transformation into economic value as one of the main agenda items.

The opening speeches of the event, held at Lazzoni Hotel, were delivered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammed Kasapoğlu, General Manager of Entertech İstanbul Teknokent; Prof. Dr. Nuri Aydın, Rector of Istanbul University–Cerrahpaşa; Prof. Dr. Osman Bülent Zülfikar, Rector of Istanbul University; and Prof. Dr. M. Zeki Durak, President of the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office. In their speeches, they emphasized the importance of protecting academic knowledge, transforming it into technology, and bringing it together with the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Intellectual Property at the Center of Investment and Growth

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammed Kasapoğlu, General Manager of Entertech İstanbul Teknokent, stated that intellectual property is not merely a tool for protection, and said:

“Today, producing knowledge alone is no longer sufficient; it is necessary to protect that knowledge and transform it into economic value. As Entertech İstanbul Teknokent, we bring the knowledge produced at universities together with entrepreneurship, and we place intellectual property at the center of investment and growth. Most of the companies we invest in are patent-based, and we pave the way for their commercialization.”

Prof. Dr. Nuri Aydın, Rector of Istanbul University–Cerrahpaşa, drew attention to the changing role of universities and stated:

“The protection of produced knowledge and its transformation into economic value has become a critical threshold for the sustainable scientific productivity of universities. Intellectual property is one of the most fundamental building blocks of this transformation.”

Prof. Dr. Osman Bülent Zülfikar, Rector of Istanbul University, emphasized the strategic dimension of intellectual property and said:

“Intellectual property is no longer merely a technical legal matter; it is a fundamental mechanism that enables knowledge to become a strategic asset. The true value of knowledge produced at universities emerges when it is protected and commercialized.”

Prof. Dr. M. Zeki Durak, President of the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, also underlined the strategic importance of intellectual property:

“Today, intellectual property is not only a legal framework; it is a strategic element that determines the competitiveness of countries. Especially in rapidly transforming fields such as sports, the protection of emerging data and technologies is of critical importance for sustainable economic value.”

Sports, Technology, and Intellectual Property on Common Ground

As part of the event, the panel titled “Innovation, IP, and Sports” addressed the changing nature of sports from a multidimensional perspective. Abdullah Avcı, an experienced football manager who has shaped the modern understanding of Turkish football with his strategic brilliance and achievements, participated in the panel as a speaker. He stated that sports are no longer limited to physical performance alone:

“Today, sports are not played only on the field. They have transformed into a structure that is analyzed through data and developed through technology. In this process, protecting the knowledge that emerges has become a critical competitive advantage for clubs.”

The panel also discussed sports technologies, performance analytics, data-driven applications, and the economic value of intellectual property emerging in these fields.

Within the scope of the program, the financial dimension of intellectual property was evaluated in the panel titled “Patent as an Investment Instrument.” In addition, the BİGGİST Consortium Signing Ceremony was held. This structure, signed with Teknopol İstanbul, Biruni Teknopark, and Entertech İstanbul Teknokent, stood out as an important step toward supporting technology-based startups.

The event concluded with the participation of academics, entrepreneurs, investors, and sector representatives.