As part of our Erasmus+ project, DIGIAGE Game Development and Coding Academy 2021-2-TR01-KA220-YOU-000051441, we proudly hosted the DIGIAGE 2.0 Forum as our multiplier event, organized with the contributions of APY Ventures and Bilişim Vadisi. This event also served as the closing event for our project. It marked a significant milestone, bringing together policymakers and game developers to shape the future of the game development industry.
The event was organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, with opening speeches delivered by Muhammet Bilal Macit, General Manager of R&D Incentives at the Ministry of Industry and Technology, and Erkam Tüzgen, General Manager of Bilişim Vadisi. Emre Yıldız, Director of DIGIAGE, detailed the future goals and strategic orientations of the company. This was followed by a conversation with Mustafa Keçeli, Fund Manager of APY Ventures, who provided comprehensive information about APY financing and DIGIAGE investment processes.
In the second session, discussions centered on how Turkey’s IT sector can become more influential in the global arena. Ali Burak Boztaş from the Ministry of Trade introduced internationalization strategies and the E-TURQUALITY Program, while Ali Şenlikci, International Projects Manager of Bilişim Vadisi, presented our Erasmus+ project and developed a policy document.
In the DIGIAGE Investment Adventure session, moderated by Ecosystem Development Specialist Rabia Nart, the Tape Corps team and Immeta Studio team, who had previously participated in DIGIAGE camps, shared their experiences. They discussed the processes and challenges they faced in their entrepreneurial journey, which they began with the knowledge gained during the camp.
The final session, New Route in Turkey’s Gaming Ecosystem, was moderated by Doğukan Çetin, Deputy Director of APY Ventures. The session featured discussions by DIGIAGE Advisory Board Member and BugLab Director Güven Çatak, DIGIAGE Advisory Board Member and OYUNDER Founding President Tansu Kendirli, and Nowhere Studio Founder Burak Tezateşer.
Game Accelerator Program Exported from Turkey to the World
Highlighting that DIGIAGE is an end-to-end support program, Erkam Tüzgen, General Manager of Bilişim Vadisi, stated: “DIGIAGE is the first and only game acceleration program exported from Turkey to the world. We started this program in Turkey, implemented it here, then exported it to Azerbaijan, and we will implement it again in the Balkans. There are many entrepreneurship and acceleration programs in Turkey, but on a global scale, we are more often on the importing side. With the DIGIAGE program, we have shifted to the exporting side. We will continue to be pioneers in the sector through our collaborations, workshops, and the common sense we have fostered, and we are growing stronger every day on this path.”
Our Main Motivation is to Be Global
Emre Yıldız, Director of DIGIAGE, emphasized in his speech that they have reached more than 18,000 game developers through the eight game development camps they have organized so far, leading to the formation of over 200 teams. He noted that 25 of these teams have entered the incorporation stage within Bilişim Vadisi. Yıldız stated, “Our main motivation is to be global.” He also mentioned that, thanks to their experience, they are now equipped to organize camps in other countries and train hundreds of young people there. Addressing the challenges in game education, Yıldız explained that they organized DIGIAGE camps to make these trainings more accessible. He highlighted the issue of inequality of opportunity in technology, stating that they aim to offer the technological infrastructure of DIGIAGE to those with limited or no access to technology.
Turkey’s Internationalization Strategies and E-TURQUALITY Program
Ali Burak Boztaş, a Trade Specialist from the Ministry of Trade, participated in the forum and explained Turkey’s internationalization strategies. Boztaş shared details of the E-TURQUALITY Program with the participants, explaining how this program will help the Turkish gaming industry gain a stronger foothold in the international arena. E-TURQUALITY stands out as a strategic initiative aimed at making Turkish gaming companies more competitive in global markets.
Erasmus+: Policy Paper
As the closing event of the Erasmus+ project, this forum provided an important platform for developing a policy document for the gaming ecosystem. The Erasmus+ project addresses key themes such as youth empowerment, diversity and inclusion, sustainable development, and the future of digital skills.
At the heart of our discussions was a comprehensive policy paper on the critical challenges and opportunities in the game development sector. This document is the outcome of game ecosystem-specific strategy plans and the valuable suggestions shared by the policymakers who participated in our event. It reflects the broad collaboration of our project participants, focusing on the key themes of youth empowerment, diversity and inclusion, sustainable development, and the future of digital skills in games.
DIGIAGE has reached more than 18,000 game developers through the eight game development camps organized so far. These camps have led to the formation of over 200 teams, 25 of which have reached the incorporation stage. At the Forum, 10 game developers who received training and mentoring support through the DIGIAGE program had the opportunity to present their projects. This allowed them to connect with major players in the industry and explore investment and cooperation opportunities.
DIGIAGE’s future plans include supporting more game developers, increasing collaborations within the industry, and striving for even greater success in the field of game development.
Stay tuned for updates and new developments about DIGIAGE!
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