Launching of a sustainable entrepreneurship course in Turkey

The SMART Start-up Training on Sustainable Entrepreneurship in the Mediterraneanb took place between 14 – 17 February, 2012 at the notable venue of Bogazici University, in its historical building from 1890s. The training was designed as an interactive discovery aiming to inspire the participants to explore the role of Sustainable Entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean and the means of activating resource efficient businesses practices that can contribute to the Green Economy. The training also provided innovative mechanisms and tools for enhancing the capacity of sustainable entrepreneurs and sustainable business in the Mediterranean region.

Various of the existing sustainability-driven initiatives contributing to healthier and more sustainable lifestyles for citizens in the Mediterranean region were integrated into the Programme. Thus, the training provided space for an exchange between the participants and the existing sustainable entrepreneurs, who were visiting on each day. The young innovators shared their experiences and explored together with the participants the means with which regular constraints can be converted into innovative opportunities, and how their sustainable business models can be scaled up for global impact. A multidisciplinary group of near 30 talented and motivated Turkish students, young professionals and entrepreneurs from the Mediterranean region participated into this unique experience.

Besides the training, SMART Start-up Multi-Stakeholder Meeting on the Future of Sustainable Business and Entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean was held on February the 17^th, 2012 also at the Bogazici University in Istanbul. The event opened an interdisciplinary dialogue to a broad range of sustainable business and entrepreneurship stakeholders from the Mediterranean region, including entrepreneurs, policy makers, NGOs, academia, companies and investors, as well as the next generation of Turkish sustainable entrepreneurs. The later presented and pitch their business ideas that were to be developed during the SMART Start-up Training.

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