Thesis design entrepreneurship in Turkey: Proposed design technopark model for implementation at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University

Design entrepreneurship plays a significant role in the modern business landscape shaped by contemporary economic dynamics. This study proposes the implementation of a "Design Technopark" model within the framework of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University to foster design entrepreneurship in Turkey. This proposal aims to address the opportunities and necessities at the intersection of design and entrepreneurship, with the intention of contributing to Turkey's entrepreneurship ecosystem. The primary objective of this study is to comprehend the concept of design entrepreneurship and to propose a model that encourages entrepreneurship in the field of design within Turkey. To achieve this goal, an extensive examination of design, entrepreneurship, and their convergence has been conducted. Moreover, fieldwork involving interviews with stakeholders in the entrepreneurship ecosystem and current design entrepreneurs in Turkey has been carried out. In the first section, the rationale for selecting this subject is explained. The scarcity of entrepreneurship education among designers and the limited presence of thematic technoparks are identified as foundational reasons. To underscore the lack of entrepreneurship education among designers, a survey was administered to design students, the responses of which substantiated this insufficiency. The second section comprehensively defines the concepts of design and entrepreneurship individually. The diverse realms within design and its educational aspects are expounded upon. In parallel, entrepreneurship is characterized through chronological descriptions, emphasizing its significance, and elaborating on the notion of an entrepreneurial individual. By addressing entrepreneurship education and its linkage with universities, the Triple Helix Model, encompassing Government- University-Industry collaboration, is introduced. The section dedicated to the relationship between design and entrepreneurship explores both convergent and divergent points. Concepts encapsulating both design and entrepreneurship, namely Design Thinking and Creative Industries, are further highlighted. Additionally, in line with the proposed model, categorizing the fields of design ventures is undertaken, resulting in four distinct categories: Digital Marketing, Game Industry, Product Design, and Web-App Design. The research was continued through interviews. In order for the proposed model to take shape, the participation of both design entrepreneurs and technopark administrators within the Technopark environment was essential. Therefore, for the fourth section, existing operational models were chosen and interviews were conducted with both technopark authorities and design entrepreneurs from the selected technoparks. From the interviews with design entrepreneurs, an attempt was made to determine the requirements for a design entrepreneur within the Technopark, including their educational needs, necessary resources for project development, and all prerequisites for their initiatives. Conversely, through interviews with technopark authorities, insights were gathered regarding the establishment process of a Technopark, procedural intricacies, location selection, administrative units' requisites, operational procedures, physical conditions and needs, collaborations, events, and the details indispensable for the sustainability of the designated region. Tabulations of the interviews with both parties were created, and common words were identified through the intersection of responses, resulting in findings tables. During the formulation of the model description, attention was directed towards these outcomes. The findings of the study emphasize the deficiencies and opportunities in design entrepreneurship in Turkey. Interviews with both technopark authorities and design entrepreneurs provide an analysis of the current state and substantiate the necessity of the proposed model. Based on all the gathered data, the fifth section of the study encompasses the definition of the model, outlining the main components of the model in a schematic representation. To enable the establishment of a Design Entrepreneurship Center, a proposed incubation program has been developed for design entrepreneurs to participate. The purpose of the model has been identified, and the New York University Game Innovation Lab has been considered as an exemplary model. To elaborate on the model definition, a new subsection titled "Principles and Procedures of the Model" has been introduced. Drawing reference from the "Technology Development Zones Implementation Regulation" published in the Official Gazette by the Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Turkey, the model's components have been formulated. Each section of the relevant legislation, including the Founding Committee, Location Selection, Industrial Potential, Region Applications, Administrative Company, General Manager, Incubation Center, Personnel Employment, Supported Programs, has been covered. For each of these topics, specific recommendations have been made in the context of the Design Technopark. As the Design Technopark will operate with a strong design focus, it is envisaged to be a thematic technology development zone. Given that the relevant legislation addresses this concept under the title "Specialized Technology Development Zones," examples of such zones have been presented within the thesis, emphasizing the absence of such a structure within the domain of design. In conclusion, the proposed "Design Technopark" model, intended to be implemented within Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, provides a foundation for the encouragement and advancement of design entrepreneurship. The model envisions an integrated approach encompassing design education, entrepreneurship education, industrial collaboration, commercialization, marketing, and R&D. The objective is to foster design entrepreneurship and contribute to Turkey's potential for innovation and economic growth. This proposal serves as a fundamental guide for future research and applications.