Adding Value to the Future Project (COMPLETED)

Project Start Date: 15.02.2016

Project End Date: 15.05.2017

Project Duration: 15 Months

Project Coordinator: İzmir Development Agency (Türkiye)

Project Partners:

  • Lamoro Development Agency (Italy)

  • Aegean Refrigeration Industrialists and Business People Association – ESSİAD (Türkiye)

  • Associazione dei Tecnici del Freddo – ATF (Italy)

Countries / Cities of Implementation: Piedmont (Italy), İzmir (Türkiye)

About the Project

The “Adding Value to the Future” project was granted funding under the Civil Society Dialogue IV – Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments Grant Program, which aims to support the dialogue process between civil society organizations in Türkiye and the European Union. The project application was jointly submitted by İzmir Development Agency, Lamoro Development Agency, Associazione dei Tecnici del Freddo (ATF – the cluster management association in Italy), and ESSİAD.

Project Objective

The project aimed to develop mutual understanding and cooperation between the İzmir and Piedmont (Italy) regions on regional policy and economic development models. It was implemented to establish a long-term cooperation framework between İzmir Development Agency and Lamoro Development Agency, based on experience sharing and joint capacity building in the fields of clustering and value chain development.

Activities Carried Out Within the Scope of the Project

  • A value chain methodology applicable to all sectors was developed, and in line with this common methodology, field studies and pilot implementations were conducted for clusters in both regions, followed by value chain analyses.

  • Based on the results of the field studies, upgrading plans and future strategies were prepared for both clusters.

  • Development scenarios were created to increase the sector’s added value, and potential areas of cooperation between the two clusters were identified.

  • At the end of the project, an international conference was organized in İzmir, where the project outputs were shared and the future vision of the sector was discussed.

Participation in International Meetings

Within the scope of the ESSİAD Adding Value to the Future Project, ESSİAD participated in the 3rd Conceptualization Meeting held in Italy. 

Within the scope of the “Adding Value to the Future Project”, implemented under the Civil Society Dialogue IV Grant Program between the European Union and Türkiye, the Third Conceptualization Meeting was held in Casale Monferrato, Italy, between 29–31 March 2017.

The meeting aimed to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation between the İzmir and Piedmont (Italy) regions on regional policy and economic development models. On the first day of the meeting, Casale Monferrato Mayor Concetta Palazzetti was visited with the participation of Deputy Governor of İzmir, Mr. Nihat Kaynar.

On the same day, Ms. Hülya Ulusoy Sungur, Expert from the Planning, Programming and Coordination Unit, delivered a presentation on behalf of the İzmir Development Agency, providing updates on the progress of the Adding Value to the Future Project. Additionally, Mr. Hakan Zobu, Association Consultant representing ESSİAD, gave a presentation including statistical analyses of companies operating in the Turkish and Italian refrigeration sectors.

On the second day of the meeting, Ms. Aylin Gel, Secretary General of ESSİAD, delivered presentations on the association’s activities and ongoing projects. With the participation of representatives from Coldcar, U5 (U Cinque), and Embraco, information was shared regarding the bilateral meetings to be held within the scope of the conference titled “Strengthening the European Refrigeration Sector: Co-Designing the Future”, which was planned to take place in İzmir on 21–22 April 2017 as part of the Adding Value to the Future Project.

Leading Figures of the Refrigeration Sector Came Together at the Conference “Strengthening the European Refrigeration Sector: Co-Designing the Future”, Organized within the Scope of the Adding Value to the Future Project

Within the scope of its clustering activities, the İzmir Development Agency (İZKA) organized the conference titled “Strengthening the European Refrigeration Sector: Co-Designing the Future” for the Industrial Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Sector, one of İzmir’s key clusters. Held on 21–22 April, the conference brought together numerous participants from countries such as India, the United States, France, and Japan to discuss the future of the sector in İzmir.

The conference was organized within the framework of the “Adding Value to the Future” Project, jointly implemented by the İzmir Development Agency in cooperation with ESSİAD, Lamoro Development Agency (Italy), and the Italian Association of Refrigeration Technicians (Associazione dei Tecnici Italiani del Freddo – ATF). The project is supported under the Turkey–EU Civil Society Dialogue IV: Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments Grant Program and aims to enhance cooperation and experience sharing between refrigeration clusters operating in Türkiye and Italy.

Among the key outputs of the project based on the Industrial Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Cluster are the implementation of a value chain analysis using an original methodology, the development of policies to increase the cluster’s competitiveness based on this analysis, and the implementation of these policy recommendations.

During the conference, the value chain analysis developed for the sector was presented, and discussions were held with international sector representatives on the future of refrigeration technology. The future of the refrigeration sector was evaluated in light of global environmental regulations, newly developed technologies, and smart applications such as intelligent cold chain systems.

The conference opened with a keynote speech by Mr. Mike Gamble, Global Equipment Research Director at Coca-Cola, and featured Mr. Rajendra Shende, former Director of UNEP and President of the Terre Policy Center, as the Guest of Honor, who also chaired the session titled “The Future of the Refrigeration Sector.” Representatives from leading companies in Türkiye and worldwide, including Sanden Environmental Products Corporation, Cold Car, Ahmet Yar Soğutma, and Metalfrio, participated in the conference.

On the second day of the conference, bilateral business meetings were held between Turkish and Italian sector representatives. Participants noted that the one-to-one meetings were highly successful. In the afternoon, participants joined a cultural visit to the Ancient City of Ephesus and the House of Virgin Mary, followed by a technical visit to the factory of Ahmet Yar Soğutma. Following the conference, participants expressed their desire for the event to be repeated in the coming years. Through the conference, many institutions and organizations—particularly ESSİAD and ATF—also had the opportunity to discuss the development of new joint projects for the future.