BİYOSAD served as a bridge between science and industry at the International Proteomics Congress.

The International Proteomics Congress , held at Istanbul Technical University, brought together scientists, industry representatives, and public institutions in the field of biotechnology. The congress addressed the future of biotechnology, opportunities for collaboration between industry and universities, and the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Dr. Ercan Varlıbaş, Chairman of the Board of Directors of BİYOSAD ( Biotechnology and Biotechnology Manufacturers Association), stated that Turkey has strong advantages in domestic and national pharmaceutical production and emphasized the critical role of public-university-industry collaboration.

One of the sessions that left its mark on the congress was the “Industry-University-Startup Collaboration” panel, organized with the contributions of the Biotechnology Industrialists Association (BİYOSAD). Levent Doğanay moderated the panel, which also featured BİYOSAD Chairman Dr. Ercan Varlıbaş , Adil Mardinoğlu, Berk Özdemir, Doğan Taşkent, and Ali Demir Sezer as speakers. Participants shared their views on transferring knowledge produced in universities to industry, the importance of startups in this process, and increasing Turkey's competitiveness in the global market.

Speaking at the panel , Dr. Ercan Varlıbaş highlighted Turkey's journey in biotechnology, describing the Biotechnology Valley being built in Tuzla and its future vision. He noted that this massive project, realized with a total investment of $4.5 billion, spans an area of 2.7 million square meters , emphasizing that the valley will not only be a production area but also a center bringing together research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and export. The project aims to create 20,000 jobs, achieve an annual export capacity of $15 billion, and integrate 500 start-ups and 160 industrial companies into the same ecosystem. Furthermore, the biotechnology college, shared laboratories, patent offices, and validation centers to be established in the valley will offer comprehensive opportunities to young scientists and entrepreneurs.

Presentations at the congress also addressed the size of the biotechnology pharmaceutical market and the opportunities it offers for Turkey. The fact that this market, which reaches hundreds of billions of dollars globally, is projected to exceed 60.9 billion TL in Turkey by 2024, highlights the investment and production potential in this field. Dr. Varlıbaş stated that Turkey has a significant advantage in this sector, saying, "We have enormous advantages that will allow us to produce our own domestic pharmaceuticals and strive for leadership in this sector. Turkey can play a crucial role in the production of biosimilar drugs. Therefore, cooperation between universities, the public sector, and industry is critically important."

In his speech, Dr. Ercan Varlıbaş also touched upon international collaborations, stating, "The memorandum of understanding signed with Incheon in South Korea, the contacts made at the BioProcess International Conference in Boston, and the Healthcare+ Expo meetings in Taiwan have increased Turkey's visibility on the biotechnology scene. Furthermore, we successfully represented Turkey at the BIO International Convention held in Boston in June 2025. We are excited about opening the first ever Turkey Pavilion at the event in San Diego in 2026, together with the Presidential Investment Office and leading companies in the sector. This step will be Turkey's showcase on a global scale."

Another key topic discussed in the panel was bringing young entrepreneurs into the sector. Enabling start-ups in the Biotechnology Valley to access production and validation facilities without incurring high costs will facilitate faster commercialization of ideas. Participants emphasized that this will increase Türkiye's innovation capacity and enhance its global competitiveness.

At the end of his speech , Dr. Ercan Varlıbaş stated that biotechnology is not only an economic opportunity but also of great importance for independence in healthcare and environmental sustainability. Emphasizing that Turkey is opening a new chapter in biotechnology, Dr. Varlıbaş noted that this process will be written in collaboration with academics, entrepreneurs, industry representatives, and public authorities. He expressed that BİYOSAD is ready to fulfill its responsibility in line with this goal.

The International Proteomics Congress served as a platform for discussing the shared future of science and industry, while also concretely outlining the role that BİYOSAD will play in this future.