The MZV-MEF YetGen Summit, supported by the Mehmet Zorlu Foundation (MZF) and MEF University and led by Prof. Erhan Erkut , the Founder of YetGen, took place at the Zorlu Performing Arts Center on November 19. The summit, held free of charge for eight years, garnered significant interest from young participants. The event, like the training program, was broadcast live on YouTube, reaching a substantial audience of young individuals. Since 2015, almost 11 thousand students have engaged in the program, which was organized under the theme “Inspiration from the past, hope for the future” to mark the 100th anniversary of the Republic this year. In total, 15 thousand students have taken part in the summits conducted thus far. Olgun Zorlu, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Zorlu Holding, emphasized that the Mehmet Zorlu Foundation has been a supporter and stakeholder of the YetGen program since 2015, adding that the program holds great value for them.

Zorlu Holding, recognizing social support activities as a significant aspect of its corporate culture, welcomed six non-governmental organizations involved in its Corporate Volunteering Program, the Kıvılcımlar (“Sparks”) Movement, at its Levent 199 building on December 5, International Volunteer Day. On this significant day, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Market was established at Levent 199, featuring booths from various organizations such as the Bilim Kahramanları (Heroes of Science) Association, Hope Foundation for Children with Cancer (KAÇUV), Parıltı Association for Supporting Visually-Impaired Children, Tüvana Foundation for the Education of Willing Children (TOÇEV), Down Syndrome Association of Türkiye, and the Spinal Cord Paralytics Association of Türkiye (TOFD). During this special day, which coincided with the 5th anniversary of the Kıvılcımlar (“Sparks) Movement, award ceremonies were conducted at Levent 199 and Vestel City. At the ceremonies, 32 “Sparks” who dedicated a minimum of five days over the course of five years to volunteer work, transforming it into social benefit, were honored with plaques. On December 5, a Wikimarathon took place with the aim of creating a “Corporate Volunteering” page on Wikipedia. This initiative seeks to promote corporate volunteering and establish an accessible and enduring resource for everyone.

In December, the Smart Life Meetings, organized for Zorlu Group employees with the vision of Smart Life 2030, featured guests Barış Doğru, Editor-in-Chief of EkoIQ and İklim Haber, and writer Didem Eryar Ünlü, Coordinator and Sustainability Editor at NB Ekonomi Newspaper. The sessions provided insights from experts in their respective fields. During the meeting, participants discussed and evaluated the discussions and outcomes of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Dubai. The experts delved into the topics discussed, decisions made, and the latest developments pertaining to the global struggle against climate change. The guests also provided their insights on Türkiye’s initiatives and actions regarding climate change that were unveiled during the summit.

The TTGV Awards, organized by the Technology Development Foundation of Türkiye (TTGV) to recognize and encourage the work of young technology professionals, were presented to the recipients. Lentatek received the Dr. Fikret Yücel Pioneer Organization Award at TTGV’s Climate Technologies Awards for its outstanding R&D efforts in the field of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies. Lentatek General Manager Öner Tekin accepted the award on behalf of the company. The Technology Development Foundation of Türkiye (TTGV) annually presents awards to individuals and organizations that are pioneers of change in their respective areas of focus, as part of their efforts to support technology development and innovation activities within the private sector in Türkiye. TTGV’s awards this year were centered around climate technologies, recognizing and honoring researchers, organizations, civil society initiatives, and leaders who have pioneered change in this field.

Ayesaş, a leading system supplier in the Turkish Defense Industry, participated in the TUR Industry Day held at the NATO Staff Centre in Brussels. The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Türkiye, officials from the relevant units of the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA), military representatives, ambassadors and NAD representatives, as well as relevant executives from IMS and IS. During the event, Ayesaş showcased its Ropkon and Next Generation Mobile Radar Complex products, emphasizing its expertise and experience in the field, while engaging with representatives from NATO. The TUR Industry Day serves the purpose of facilitating NATO authorities and officials’ direct interaction with Turkish defense industry companies, offering them easy access to the capabilities and products of these companies.