Genco Erkal and the Dostlar Theatre Win the 22nd Vehbi Koç Award

Vehbi Koç Foundation’s Vehbi Koç Award recipient of this year is Genco Erkal, who has completed 64 years in the theater scene, and the Dostlar Theatre, of which he is one of the founders. Vehbi Koç Award is given in the fields of culture, education, and healthcare to individuals and institutions that contribute to improving people's quality of life.

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The story of an exhibition: ‘For My Friend’

The idea for curating an exhibition, which eventually came to life with the “For My Friend” project, was first discussed in 2020 when Ömer M. Koç, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Sadberk Hanım Museum, proposed creating a catalog of the embroidered letter and document wallets in his private collection to Hülya Bilgi, the curator of the exhibition.

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Impact Entrepreneurship Program’s first participants graduated

The Impact Entrepreneurship Program, launched in May in partnership with Vehbi Koç Foundation and İşbank to support startups focused on creating a better world, has been completed. The five startups that successfully went through all the stages graduated from the program.

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Impact Entrepreneurship Program from Vehbi Koç Foundation and İşbank

Vehbi Koç Foundation and İşbank (Türkiye İş Bankası) joined forces to support startups that focus on creating a better world. The two organizations launched the Impact Entrepreneurship Program for startups that scale social and environmental impact through technology with the vision of building a better world.

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Semahat Arsel is the First Honorary Member of Turkish Nurses Association

Established in 1933, the Turkish Nurses Association has awarded the title of "Honorary Member" to Semahat Arsel, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Vehbi Koç Foundation, for the first time in its history. Semahat Arsel said, "It is very important that not only Vehbi Koç Foundation, but all nurses support the mission and profession of nursing and also Turkish Nurses Association which was founded for this purpose.”

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What is cultural heritage?

Tangible or intangible representations of customs, practices, places, objects, and values of communities passed on from generation to generation are called cultural heritage as a whole. The concept of cultural heritage originates from the idea that civilizations’ cultural treasures belong to all humankind. Focusing on universalness makes it possible to preserve the cultural treasures for the future.

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Distinguished Professor Ivet Bahar is the recipient of the 21st Vehbi Koç Award

The recipient of the 21st Vehbi Koç Award, presented annually by the Vehbi Koç Foundation for culture, education and health, respectively, is İvet Bahar, the Distinguished Professor, who creates a foundation for the development of life-saving pharmaceutical products for millions of people with her pioneering work on computational molecular and system biology.

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A surprise from Vehbi Koç to his family: Büyükdere House

Do you know the story of Vehbi Koç’s Büyükdere House, currently hosting a selection of Anatolian kilims and weaving tools, which the late Josephine Powell, the American photographer and collector known as one of the last travelers of Anatolia, donated to the Vehbi Koç Foundation? Let’s trace the history of this house, which today serves as an exhibition space of the Vehbi Koç Foundation.

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What is impact entrepreneurship?

We are entering an era when businesses will care as much about making a profit as driving positive and environmental impact. As impact entrepreneurship takes its place among the essential business models to help our survival on the planet, we will certainly hear more about this concept in the times to come.

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Project “City Walls of Istanbul” moves to digital platform

The project about the City Walls of Istanbul, some of which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is now moved to a digital platform. The project was initiated by Koç University’s Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for Late Antiquity and Byzantine Studies (GABAM) and is carried out by an international team.

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Koç University Rahmi M. Koç Medal of Science goes to Professor Ali Hortaçsu

Awarded for the sixth time on November 30, 2021, the Koç University Rahmi M. Koç Medal of Science was presented in the fields of “Administrative Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities and Law” to Professor Ali Hortaçsu for his outstanding contributions in the area of market efficiency, rational behavior, and auction models.

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Vehbi Koç’s Life Story and Thoughts Continue to Inspire

The book titled “Vehbi Koç Anlatıyor-Bir Derleme” about the life experiences of Vehbi Koç, founder of Turkey's largest conglomerate Koç Holding and the first private foundation of the country, has been published as a timeless guide for all generations to benefit.

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