Our world is facing complex and diverse problems today. However, it is possible to build a brighter future with solutions and innovations that can overcome these challenges. People continue to struggle with many difficulties brought by our age.

Despite all these difficulties, people are showing more interest in new solutions to overcome the problems they face. The world of science promises a safer and more sustainable future with innovations that can achieve positive results in combating climate change, coping with pandemics more easily and providing easier access to new products or services that support economic growth.

On February 16th, the world celebrates Innovation Day, focusing on new knowledge for societies to be more advanced and powerful. The achievements of the idea people who strive to transform the world on this special day are honored. New knowledge opens the doors to new technologies, inventions and careers for future generations.

What is innovation?

Innovation is a term that refers to the process of creating, developing and implementing new and original ideas, products, processes or services. This concept aims to improve the current situation, find new and effective solutions, provide competitive advantages or stand out in the market. Although initially associated with technology, innovation is not only attributed to technological developments; it can also affect business models, organizational processes, marketing strategies and social areas.

Especially with technological advancements, industrial developments and cultural changes, innovation becomes more important in many sectors and areas of life. Innovation helps companies ensure their long-term success, grow, and adapt to changing market conditions. It is considered a fundamental source of power not only for companies but also for economic developments, scientific discoveries, and social progress. (For more information about the concept of innovation and types of innovation, you can take a look at our blog post in Turkish.)

“Especially with technological advancements, industrial developments and cultural changes, innovation becomes more important in many sectors and areas of life.”

Past to present innovation examples

To better understand the concept of innovation, let's give a few examples of the most important innovations that have fundamentally changed our lives from the past to the present.

Internet: Imagine a world where the internet was never invented... How would we live, what opportunities would we miss out on? The internet, which we use in many aspects of our daily lives and business life today, took shape in the late 20th century and completely changed global communication and information access in the early 21st century. This revolutionary innovation has brought significant changes not only in accessing information but also in social connections, e-commerce and remote work, among many other areas.

Mobile devices and smartphones: Smartphones and portable devices have made it possible for everyone to access information and communication easily. Many applications we use, camera, photo and video technologies and location-based services have become indispensable services in various areas of our lives. Thanks to our mobile devices, we can perform many tasks quickly and easily.

Genetic engineering and CRISPR-Cas9 gene technology: This technology, also known as "genome editing" allows genetic engineers to make additions and deletions to DNA. Researchers recently announced that they have produced multiple new fruit fly species in the laboratory using a new genetic engineering method for the first time. This could mean the elimination of insect-borne diseases in the future.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning: Artificial intelligence and machine learning have increased the ability of computers to perform complex tasks by improving their learning ability. These technologies have brought about significant changes in automation, data analytics, healthcare services and many other areas. Today, we use various AI-based services in our daily lives, such as banking applications, customer service and personalized advertisements based on our purchase history on e-commerce websites.

Clean energy technologies: Today, innovations focusing on solar energy, wind energy and other clean energy sources aim to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and combat climate change. Developments in this field are changing the energy production and consumption paradigm. For example, panels made with innovative materials to use solar energy more efficiently or hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources with the electrolysis yenilenebilir enerji kaynaklarından üretilen hidrojen gibi.

As SOCAR Türkiye we celebrate Innovation Day with our achievements

Especially large organizations that are decisive in economic developments continue to focus on digital transformation and innovations to continue providing value and maintain their competitive advantages. At SOCAR Türkiye, we prioritize innovation which is one of the key dynamics triggering industrial growth. We balance production factors, create resources and prioritize investments in technology, innovative projects, R&D and innovation to provide social, environmental and economic benefits.

SOCAR Türkiye celebrates Innovation Day in 2023 with our achievements. As SOCAR Türkiye R&D and Innovation Inc.:

• We participated in 53 different national and international events.
• We became the first company in the industry to receive the ISO56002 Innovation Management System Certificate worldwide.
• We won the 3rd prize in the "Best Project Management Office" category at the PMI Türkiye Future Makers 2023 Project Management Summit.
• We became the 5th company to make the largest R&D investment in the Chemicals and Chemical Products sector in Türkiye.
• In the RDCONF International Design, Research and Development "Best Innovative Projects" category, our first digital content R&D product, ImCube was awarded the first prize.
• With our "High Flexural Modulus PP" project, we were awarded the Most Successful Large-Scale Organization award.

SOCAR R&D and Innovation Inc. in numbers

• We implemented 38 projects
• In addition to our ongoing 5 projects, our ALGAESOL project also qualified for financing by the EU. We applied for 3 patents and were awarded 4 patent registrations.
• We published 11 scientific articles.