Within the framework of the protocol signed between Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN) and Turkish Patent and Trademark Institution (TÜRKPATENT), TÜRKPATENT Intellectual Property Advisory Unit began operating under Zonguldak TEKNOPARK. The new unit will serve as a key support center addressing the intellectual and industrial property needs of the city’s academic, entrepreneurial, and industrial ecosystem.
BEUN Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Şenol Hakan Kutoğlu, Director of Zonguldak Technopark, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ferdi Kesikoğlu, Coordinator of Intellectual Property and Advisory Unit, Prof. Dr. Şenay Saraç, Intellectual Property Expert, Reyyan Pınar Sözbilen, academic and administrative staff, attended the opening ceremony held at Zonguldak Technopark.
A New Center That Facilitates Patent
The unit under the coordination of Prof. Dr. Şenay Saraç aims to provide support for the needs of academics, students, entrepreneurs, and companies in the process of patent, trademark, design, and preparing utility models. The unit will offer services such as patent/utility model application preparation, preliminary searches, specification drafting support, invention verification and assessment, guidance on trademark and design registration applications, and information on the management of intellectual and industrial property rights. These services aim to ensure the protection and commercialization of researchers’ inventions and enhance their competitiveness at national and international levels.
A Significant Step for Technopark
Speaking in the opening ceremony, BEUN Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Şenol Hakan Kutoğlu highlighted that the technology production and information transfer capacity of the university continues to enhance and said, “Management of patent and other intellectual property process holds significance in terms of the development of university-industry collaboration. We will be able to protect the innovative ideas of both our researchers and entrepreneurs with the launch of this unit. I would like to express my thanks to the Rector of BEUN, Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, and those who contributed to establishing this unit in this university.”
Highlighting the significance of the unit, the Director of Technopark Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ferdi Kesikoğlu said, “Technoparks provide a significant ecosystem that supports transferring innovative ideas to industry and developing technology-based incentives. Patents and other industrial rights not only offer protection but also ensure the return on R&D investments. That leads to more investment, more projects, and stronger collaborations. It is directly related to the sustainability of the ecosystem, protection, value enhancement, and commercialization of developed technologies. At this point, the Intellectual Property Advisory Unit has a critical role for our city and Technopark. I would like to express my thanks to the Rector of BEUN, Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, and those who contributed to establishing this unit in this university.”
The coordinator of the Intellectual Property Advisory Unit, Prof. Dr. Saraç, talked about the aims of the unit and said, “Protection of intellectual assets is critical in transforming institutional knowledge into added value. We continue to contribute to the innovative ecosystem by providing researchers with the support they need. As the TÜRKPATENT Advisory Unit, we aim to strengthen the intellectual property activities through more patent applications, intellectual property awareness seminars for researchers, international collaborations, and entrepreneurial support programs.
Prof. Dr. Özölçer: “Our New Unit Will Provide Strong Support to Our Researchers.”
BEUN Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer shared the following remarks regarding the establishment of the unit:
“The launch of the Industrial Property Advisory Unit within our institution is a significant step toward providing systematic and sustainable support for innovative work. Our goal is to ensure that the inventions developed by our researchers, students, and entrepreneurs are properly protected, to strengthen commercialization processes, and to elevate our institution’s intellectual capital to the highest level. I would like to express my sincere thanks to our Minister of Industry and Technology, Mr. Mehmet Fatih Kacır, and the Ministry family for their strong support in establishing the unit in our Technopark. I also extend my gratitude to the President of the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, Prof. Dr. M. Zeki Durak, and the entire TÜRKPATENT team. I hope that this unit will bring valuable contributions to our university and our city.
