The opening meeting of the "Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research Project" signed between the Eastern Black Sea Project (DOKAP) Regional Development Administration and TÜBİTAK TÜSSİDE for the DOKAP Region was held in Giresun on February 4, 2016.

The meeting, which was held with the participation of representatives of universities, organized industrial zones, small industrial sites, technoparks, business development centers, free zones, research institutes and NGOs, started with the opening speeches of Giresun Governor Hasan KARAHAN, DOKAP Regional Development Administration President Ekrem YÜCE and TÜSSİDE Institute Director Tezer BATTAL. Following the speeches in which the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation for the region was mentioned, the project introduction presentation including the purpose and scope of the project was made by Orhan DURSUN, Projects Coordinator of TÜSSİDE and Barış ÇARIKCI, Project Executor of TÜSSİDE.

In the afternoon part of the program, international economist Alberto GOMEZ shared information on "Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Strategy and Globalization", Assoc. Prof. Dr. M. Atilla Arıcıoğlu on "Clustering and Competitiveness" and Oya UYSAL on "Regional Innovation and Technology Infrastructures".

The project will continue by analyzing the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem of the region through field interviews, surveys and workshops, where stakeholder suggestions are also received, and revealing strategic road maps. The project aims to increase the competitiveness of the region and contribute to sustainable development.