7.Relevant Language Skills: Indicate Competence on a Scale of 1 to 5 (1 Excellent; 5 Basic)
1.Family name:
/ SAYIN2.First names:
/ Meral3.Date of birth:
/ 18 July 19564.Nationality:
/ Turkish5.Civil status:
/ Married6.Education:
Date (from – to) / Institution / Degree(s) or Diploma(s) obtained:2011- 2017 / Suleyman Demirel University / PhD. in Department of Economics; Regional Competitiveness and Clustering
1980-1984 / Middle East Technical University / M.Sc. in Operational Research Branch of Industrial Engineering Department
1974-1979 / Middle East Technical University / B. CPinCity and Regional Planning Department
7.Relevant language skills: Indicate competence on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 – excellent; 5 – basic)
Language / Reading / Speaking / WritingTurkish / Mother tongue
English / 1 / 2 / 2
8.Membership of professional bodies:Turkey - European Union Association (since 1995), Turkish Informatics Association (since 1994), Member of Internet Committee (1998-2003) Advisory Committee to Minister of Transportation & Telecommunication.
9.Other skills: (e.g. computer literacy): MS Office proficient
10.Key qualifications:
- One of the pioneers of SME development work in Turkey with over 29 years of experience in SME development, both in governmental SME support organisations and EC-financed technical assistance projects.
- Excellent knowledge of public and semi-public SME support organisations, both nationally (Ministry of Development, Ministry of Science Industry and Technology, Ministry of Economics, KOSGEB, etc.) and locally throughout Turkey.
- Over 17 years of experience in donor-funded technical assistance projects, of which 9 years with EC-funded SME development projects.
- Particular expertise in regional development, regional competitiveness, clustering, economic analysis and sectoral analysisgained during the last 10 years in more than 15 provinces of Turkey.
- Over 10 years of experience in establishment and management of technology incubators and evaluation of innovation projectsgained first as the board member of KOSGEB Technology Incubators (namely TEKMER in TR) set up in Ankara University and Bosporus University and later in Cankaya University.
- Over 28 years of experience in design and provision of business development services to entrepreneurs,particularly development of business plans.
- Extensive experience in preparation of legislation, especially in technology related fields.
- Particular expertise in entrepreneurshipand innovation supports, gained in especially technical assistance projects on entrepreneurship and clustering.
- Over 25 years of experience in designing, managing, and delivering trainings – to university students, SME’s, public institutions, and NGO’s.
- More than 20 years of experience in designing and providing consultancy services to SMEs’ start-ups and entrepreneurs.
11.Specific experience in the region:
Country / Date from – toTurkey / 1979 – 2017
Curriculum Vitae / MERAL SAYIN
12.Professional experience
DATEFROM-TO / LOCATION / COMPANY & REFERENCE
PERSON / POSITION / DESCRIPTION
03/15- / Alanya,Turkey / Alanya Hamdullah Emin Pasa (AHEP)University / Instructor (part time) and
Adjunct Consultant toCentre for Continuous Education, Entrepreneurship and Innovation (SEGIM) of Alanya Hamdullah Emin Pasa (AHEP) University / -Lecturer on “Project Life Cycle Management” in Department of Tourism Management (During the Academic Years; 2016-2017 and 2017-2018).
-Worked as Senior Cluster Analysis Expert (Short Term) for the EU financed TA Project, “Development of Maras Pepper Cluster in South Eastern Anatolia”; Task included conduction of Cluster Analysis and also Road Map Development”.
-Worked as Senior Expert (Short Term) for the EU financed TA Project, “Establishment of a Business Incubation Centre (ISGEM) in Bingol”. Task included preparation of “Consultancy Manual” and “Training Manual” for the experts of ISGEM Centre.
-Worked as Senior Economist (Short Term) for the EU financed TA Project, “Establishment of Metals Metrology and Calibration Laboratory in Samsun” planned to serve TR 83 Region. Task included conduction of regional competitiveness analyses through various regional indicators, on the basis of studies of WEF, EU, OECD and WB. Afterwards she prepared a Regional Competitiveness Report on Metal Sector.
-Worked as Senior Competitiveness Expert(Short Term) for the EU-financed TA project, “Development of Hand Made Operation in Furniture Sector in Hatay”. Task included establishment of a Competitiveness Working Group (CWG) for Development of Furniture Sector” and also preparation of an Operations Guideline for the CWG.
-Led the Cluster Analysis Component of the Project, entitled “Development of Alanya Tourism Clustering Strategy”; Project was financed by Western Mediterranean Development Agency of Turkey (responsible from Antalya, Isparta and Burdur); Beneficiary of the Project; Association of Alanya Touristic Enterprises. Total budget, € 17 000.,Task includedfirst conduction of tourism sector analysis and continued with cluster analysis activities, in whichAlanya tourism cluster map, Porter’s Diamond Framework and the network of tourism cluster in participation of related stakeholders were designed.She also undertookconduction of the component concerning preparation of“Alanya Tourism Cluster Strategic Road Map and Strategy Paper”.Additionally, she prepared a proposal document regarding management of a cluster coordination unit.Moreover she also prepared five Operation Identification Sheets related to five activities of the Strategic Road Map, for the purpose of submitting to project financing donor organizations. Project took 3 months.
- Organized and involved in actively as trainer a five-day training programme entitled; “EC Project Cycle Management”, held for the economic development actors in Alanya.
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- Director (A.) for Technology Transfer Officeof Cankaya University / - Lecturer of the course in Cankaya University, “Entrepreneurship and Innovation”, during the years 2011-2015.
- Team Leader of the Project, entitled, “Analysis of the Existing Financing AidsProvided to Artsman and Craftsman in Turkey”;All the existing support programmes open to artsman and craftsman in Turkey were analysed and then some strategic proposals suggested to the DG of Arts man and Craftsman in the related Ministry. It took 6 months.
- Responsible from the Project; entitled, “Establishment of an Incubator for Women Entrepreneurs in Polatlı” in Cankaya University side, consortium partner of the Project. It was led by Polatli Chamber of Trade and funded by Ankara Development Agency; she was also one of the trainers of Entrepreneurship Education Programme, designed in accordance with KOSGEB Entrepreneurship Training Regulations.
- Manager of the Technology Incubator Centre with 16 offices, set up through Cankaya University’s own financial sources for the researches, affiliated with Cankaya University.
- Design of an R&D and Innovation Support Programme and establishment of a Technology Incubation Centre in Cankaya University as parallel with the entrepreneurship support programme, in cooperation with KOSGEB; Providing mentoring to innovation oriented entrepreneurs and R&D firms. Consultancy provided to R&D companies and start-ups
- Led the Project entitled, “Clustering Feasibility Study for Ahiler Development Region (TR71)”, covering Nevşehir, Nigde, Aksaray, Kirikkale, and Kirşehir. The beneficiary was TR71 Development Agency.The most competitive sectors were first identified for clustering for each of 5 provinces. Afterwards a Strategic Road Map was designed for Aksaray Milk Product Manufacturers as a pilot study. It took 6 months.
-. Team Leader of the Project entitled, “Bodrum Yacht Production Cluster is Drawing Its Road Map”, financed by the South Aegean Development Agency. The beneficiary of the project was Bodrum Chamber of Commerce. Various analysis techniques were conducted, to assess competitiveness of yacht manufacturing sector and lastly the assessments were reflected to the strategic roadmap as suggestions, to improve competitiveness of yacht cluster and cluster companies. It took 2 months (completed)
- Contribution to the Report entitled, “Vision 2023 for TR52 (Konya and Karaman Nuts2 Region)” by preparing 4 Sections, under the main topic; “Entrepreneurship, Clustering, Competitiveness and Innovation Strategies”, in cooperation with the AYC Consultancy Co. Task included competitiveness analysis of main sectors in each province for clustering.In addition, a strategic road map for cluster sectors for each province was prepared.TheVision 2023 Report was funded by Mevlana Development Agency.
- Design and establishment of a Technology Transfer Office in Cankaya University;Task included preparation of a strategy document and related Regulation Documents in YOK (High Education Council) format.She also led “Entrepreneurship and Innovation” Index Working Group required by YOK,
- ProvidedTrainings for Development Agencies (MEVKA, SERHAT and KARACADAG) and various other government agencies on clustering, innovation, competitiveness and local economic development;
- Coordinator and one of thelecturers of the course titled; “Competitiveness and Clustering; the course aimed at providing the students with information on competitiveness within the context of local development and also the methodology of clustering.
- Contributed to preparation of Knowledge Management Module of the Project, entitled; ““Empowering SMEs through Networking and Inter regional Cooperation”,EC funded TA Project where the beneficiary was Ministry of Economics. Task also included preparation of the report on “EC Networks on Clustering, Entrepreneurship and Innovation”.
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Part-time,
105 w/d / Ankara and Sanlıurfa, Turkey / UNDP Country Office, Turkey, Ankara / Short-term Competitiveness Expert (EC funded TA Project, ‘Industrial Restructuring in Sanliurfa’ / Work completed in parallel with the position at Cankaya University. STE in the EU-financed TA project ‘Industrial Restructuring in Sanliurfa’, TA budget: € 2.6 million. Tasks included: (i) Coordination of Capacity Building Programmes conducted on Cluster Facilitation, Grant Management and Development of University-Industry Relationsfor Local Economic Development Organizations. Organization, management and facilitation of workshops about university- industry relations. The outputs of these workshops were innovativetechnology projects. She was involved in the diagnosis of the SMEs and producing technology solutions to the problems of these SMEs. She also took place as Co-Trainer in “Development of Cluster Facilitators” Programme carried out for Local Economic Development Organizations.(ii) Contribution to an Integrated Industrial Development Plan for Sanliurfa, in particular using clustering methodologies; analysis of sectoral needs and potentials and development of sector roadmaps through a series of workshops, covering cluster analysis and cluster development programmes and design of strategic road maps for three sectors; textile and apparel, food processing and agricultural machinery equipment. Tasks also include analysis of the innovation-levels of local SME’s and the potential for setting up technology incubation centres. In addition she designed an action plan and a 1-yr programme on improvement of university and industry relations particularly covering “setting up an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre in the Harran University”.
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(EC funded TA Project, Development of a Clustering Policy for Turkey) / EU-financed TA project ‘Development of a clustering policy for Turkey with a special focus on technology and R&D’ for the Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade. TA Budget: € 5.8 million. Tasks included:Development and implementation of 6-month project work plans; analysis of stakeholder institutions at different levels and also analysis of policies affecting cluster development from different perspectives,including industrial policy, SME policy, regional policy, entrepreneurship policy, innovation and technologypolicy and vocational training policy; preparation of a National Clustering Strategy for Turkey; development of a cluster sustainabilitymodel. In addition task included contribution to ten cluster analysis and ten road map development programmeprepared for sectors in technologic fields such as IT, automotive, organic products, machinery, food, ceramics in various provinces of Turkey; administration and execution of training programmes for business support organisations on competitiveness, innovation, entrepreneurship and clustering; design of international study tours to successful clustersand techno parksin Europe (France (like Sophia Antipolice), Austria and Germany);organization of the 3rd International Clustering Conference in Istanbul 2008, as Chair Person of the Organization Committee.
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Turkey / UNDP Country Office / Chief Technical Advisor/Team Leader
(EC funded TA Project; GAP
Entrepreneurship Support Centres; Operated under EC – GAP Regional Development Programme) / EC-financed TA project ‘GAP-GIDEM(Entrepreneurship SupportCentres) organizations;, setting up a network of SME entrepreneurship support centresin South-eastern Anatolia. TA budget: € 9.5 million. Tasks included:Implementation of the first economic impact assessment for an SME development project in Turkey; development of a sustainability model for SME support offices, ranging from legal status to ensuring financial sustainability; business and institutional needs analyses among SMEs and business NGO’s, including in Batman; capacity building for NGO’s, universities, and public servants on economic and SME development and competitiveness; development and implementation of an SME diagnostic tool, inventory preparation for 400 companies; diagnosis of over 200 companies; localized SME services and SME service delivery plans, preparation of internationalization plans for 40 selected SMEs; covering consulting, training, and institutional capacity building; and management of 10 sector specific windows projects, identified on the basis of various economic analysis studiesand afterwards development of 4 clustering projects out of this 10.
Launch of theSME cluster initiative (Adiyaman textile and garment cluster), including cluster analysis, cluster roadmap development and cluster governance; development of an internationalisation programme to improve SME export capacity;establishment of an entrepreneurship centreand a women’s entrepreneurship centre, and research on potential areas for female entrepreneurs.
The role also involved relations with high-ranking officials in national public and semi-public bodies, such as the GAP Regional Development Administration, KOSGEB, Ministry of Industry and Trade, State Planning Organisation, TOBB, and TÜBITAK.
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(Turkish SME development agency) / Head/Process Manager of Information Systems and E-Commerce Department
and
Head of Euro Info Centre (EIC) of Turkey(currently operating as European Enterprise Network) / Responsible for the introduction of a Management Information System (MIS)and e-commerce services at KOSGEB. Tasks included:Review of KOSGEB’s SME support processes and design of a KOSGEB’s e-commerce model to automate
interaction with SME’s;
-Development of KOSGEB SME support services in technology, entrepreneurship, and marketing; in-depth development of ICT support programmes, preparation of the regulation for ICT support programs, such as e-commerce and ERP;
-Board member of Evaluation Committee of Innovative and R&D Projects, in KOSGEB Technology Incubators (TEKMER) responsible from identification of granted R&D projects during 5 yrs.
-Establishment of 30 SME internet centres in various provinces, in cooperation with local chambers;
-Member of the working group responsible from the establishment of new Technology Incubators in Turkey
-At Euro Info Centre (EIC), developed information services on EC-financed SME schemes via the national SME network KOBİ-Net:and delivered seminars throughout Turkey on EC financed SME schemes.
-Development of an expansion strategy for the EIC network; development of KOBI-Net
-Securing operating funds for the sustainability of the EIC and KOBİ-Net; and
-Led theEC-funded KOBİ-Net (SME support network) project (as PCUDirector during 2001-2002).
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-Analysis of KOSGEB work flows and processes in supporting SME’s;
-Design and management of training programmes on all levels of the organisation;
-Analysis and design of SME Information Centres planned for five provinces in Turkey as Project Co-director, in order to guide investment decisions of SMEs.
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13.Others (the most important publications);
a)Sayin, M., Fazlioglu M., “SME Support Programmes and Other Incentive Schemes in EU”, KOSGEB, 1998 (ISBN: 975-7608-57-2), (in Turkish).
b)Sayin, M., Sayin, E., “Importance of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Formation of Clusters and Effects of State Aids”, Karabuk University Faculty of Economics and Management, July-September 2012 (in Turkish).
c) Dulupçu, M. A., Özkul, G., Ünlü, H., Sayın, M., “Evaluations on Taxation Authoiıty of Local Administrations”,Journal of Institute of Social Sciences of Suleyman Demirel University, No: 20, Year: 2014/2 (in Turkish).
d)Sayin, M., Tatlıdil, F., Savran, F., Aktürk, “Clustering Approach in Local Economic Development in Agricultural Sector; A Case Study for Canakkale Olive and Olive Derivatives Cluster”, Congress Book of the 10th Agricultural Economics Congress (Organizers; Selcuk University, Association of Agricultural Economics, DG for Agricultural Researches and Policies), Sept, 2012, Konya (in Turkish).
e)Kandiller, L., Sayin, M. ve Şener, İ. “Identification of the Appropriate Sectors for Clustering; an Application in TR51 Region (Konya and Karaman)”, Conference Book of the 1st International Regional Development Conference, 22-23 September 2011.
f) Sayın, M., “Clustering for Local Economic Development”, Journal of Competition Post, Sabancı University, May 2006.
g)Sayin, M., “GAP Entrepreneurship Support Centres as a Local Economic Development Model”, Regional Development and Governance Symposium (organized by TEPAV AND METU), Symposium Book, (Edited by TEPAV), Sept, 2006.