The Grand Final of Pakistan's largest entrepreneurship competition "Finding Innovative & Creative Solutions" (FICS 2023), which has been held every year since 2013, was held at the Pakistan National University of Science and Technology (NUST) on 22.08.2023. In the competition, which was held for the tenth time this year, thousands of students and researchers from all over the world were encouraged to find technology-based solutions to problems in society through innovation.
FICS 2023 also witnessed a remarkable cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan. 20 teams from universities in Turkey participated in the first leg of FICS 2023, which was hosted by Gazi University on 13.04.2023, in partnership with Pakistan NUST and Gazi University, and competed to obtain a degree by presenting their project ideas. Ege University and Gazi University teams, which were successful in this event held at our university, were entitled to participate in the Grand Final held at NUST.
Gazi University left its mark on the "FICS 2023 Grand Final", in which Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ramazan Bayındır and Rector Advisor Prof. Dr. Halil İbrahim Bülbül participated. Under academic supervision of Assoc. Dr. Nihan Akın Sönmez, Ramazan Aydın (captain, graduate student, Photonics Science and Engineering Department), Gamze Altun (undergraduate student, Photonics Department), Alperen Durgun (undergraduate student, Photonics Department), Oğuz Kaan Seymen (undergraduate student) , Photonics Department) and Muhammad Adnan Saeed (researcher, Photonics Application and Research Center) achieved victory among international competitors with their project "Recycling of Silicone Based Solar Panels" and received the "Global Champion Award" worth 5000 US Dollars. What was deemed worthy?
This year, more than 700 project applications were made from many national and international institutions to the FICS 2023 competition, where all evaluated projects are compatible with the "Sustainable Development Goals". More than 100 teams selected for the Grand Final exhibited their technology-based innovative solution prototypes to a panel of more than 30 industry judges.
FICS 2023, which also witnessed the active participation of high-level statesmen and ambassadors representing Germany, Azerbaijan, Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Palestine and Turkey, will help develop solutions to some of the world's most pressing problems by creating an international platform for young entrepreneurs around the world. It was evaluated as providing opportunities and being an excellent example of the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
