Farplas

Euronova, a leader in next-generation sustainable plastic materials, has achieved a significant milestone by securing a substantial investment led by Fark Holding. This groundbreaking achievement highlights Euronova’s dedication to innovation and sustainability.

Founders and Key Participants

Euronova was founded by Burcu Saner Okan, a faculty member in the Materials Science and Nanotechnology Engineering program at Sabancı University, in partnership with Sabancı University’s Inovent. The investment round was spearheaded by Ahu Serter, President of Fark Holding. Joining her in this investment were Ömer Burhanoğlu, CEO of Fark Holding, Emin Ataç, CEO of Farplas, and Tolga Yalgı, Executive Board Member of Farplas.

Highlights from the Signing Ceremony

A signing ceremony was held at Sabancı University to celebrate this significant investment in Euronova, which was established in 2024. The event was attended by Güler Sabancı, Founding Chair of the Board of Trustees at Sabancı University, Prof. Dr. Yusuf Leblebici, Rector of Sabancı University, Ahu Serter, President of Fark Holding, and Ziya Alpay, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, provided insights about the investment.

During the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Yusuf Leblebici and Ahu Serter shared their perspectives on the investment with the guests and academics present. Other notable attendees included Emin Ataç, CEO of Farplas, Tolga Yalgı, Executive Board Member of Farplas, Ali Çalışkan, Secretary General of Sabancı University, and Burcu Saner Okan, faculty member of the Sabancı University Inovent Materials Science and Nanotechnology program.

Insights on the Collaboration

Güler Sabancı, Founding Chair of the Board of Trustees at Sabancı University, emphasized the importance of collaboration:

At Sabancı University, we have always believed in the power of co-creation and development. The success triangle we have created, involving the private sector, public institutions, and academia, has significantly contributed to society. Today’s event is a successful example of this collaboration.”

Prof. Dr. Yusuf Leblebici, Rector of Sabancı University, highlighted the importance of university-industry partnerships:

At Sabancı University, we place great importance on university-industry collaborations. We support innovative projects and research from our students, faculty members, and the entire university community. The results we achieve underscore the significance of this matter. With 17% of our full-time faculty members in the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences being active entrepreneurs who have founded their own companies, we have a very high and successful rate compared to the rest of Turkey. As one of Turkey’s leading and globally prominent research universities, we continue our efforts to maintain our top position in the TÜBİTAK Entrepreneurial and Innovative University Index each year. Last year, we became the first university in Turkey to establish an innovation office dedicated solely to this field. We are proud to have a Chief Innovation Officer focused exclusively on this topic. With the successful work of this office, we will continue to foster industry collaborations and support startups. Today, we are at the signing ceremony of the joint venture Euronova, a product of these efforts. We believe this new initiative will benefit all stakeholders and the wider community, and we wish them great success.

Ahu Serter, President of Fark Holding, remarked:

The collaboration between Sabancı University Inovent and Fark Holding is one of the best examples of industry-university relations. This partnership began with the investment in Surgitate, founded by Sabancı University faculty member Özge Akbulut in 2012, and has continued to grow and succeed. Our investment in Euronova is a testament to our commitment to sustainability and innovation. Euronova’s material technologies not only protect nature but also add value to the industry. This partnership is a significant step towards a more sustainable future.”

Ömer Burhanoğlu, CEO of Fark Holding, emphasized:

Our investment in Euronova is a crucial step in line with Fark Holding’s strategic growth objectives. This collaboration will not only reduce environmental impacts but also enhance our competitiveness in the global market. Euronova’s technological innovations will strengthen our industry leadership and contribute to a sustainable future.”

Burcu Saner Okan, founder of Euronova and faculty member at Sabancı University, expressed her gratitude:

The support of Sabancı University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship team has been invaluable in presenting a solid business plan to investors during the investment process. At our university, where university-industry collaboration is always prioritized, ideas that started as research projects funded by TÜBİTAK have now become a prime example of industrial transformation through the vision of Fark Labs.”

A Vision for the Future

With this investment, Euronova plans to launch new projects focused on developing cutting-edge, sustainable plastic materials. The company aims to reduce environmental impacts and lead the industry toward a greener future through continuous innovation and research.

For more updates and information on Euronova and its groundbreaking work in sustainable plastic materials, stay tuned to our blog and follow us on social media.