Prof. Dr. Mehmet CANSIZ
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cansız was born in Istanbul in 1975. He completed his primary education in Erzincan and his secondary and high school education in Antalya. In 2000, he graduated from the Department of Sociology at the Faculty of Letters of Hacettepe University. He also completed his master’s and doctoral studies in the same department.
In 2001, he began his professional career as an Assistant Expert at the State Planning Organization (DPT). Following the restructuring of the institution, he served as a Planning Expert at the Ministry of Development and later as a Strategy and Budget Expert at the Presidency of Strategy and Budget. During this period, he also worked as an Inspector at the State Supervisory Council and served for two terms as Advisor to the Minister at the Ministry of Industry and Technology.
In 2018, he was awarded the title of Associate Professor by the Interuniversity Board of Türkiye. In 2019, he served as a Senior Consultant for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Specializing in industry, R&D, entrepreneurship, SMEs, and innovation, Mehmet Cansız carried out technocratic responsibilities related to Organized Industrial Zones, Technology Development Zones (Technoparks), Small Industrial Sites, Industrial Zones, and the preparation of public investment budgets, plans, and programs in the fields of entrepreneurship, innovation, industry, and technology.
He served as coordinator in the establishment and management of “Specialized Commissions,” which contributed to the preparation of Development Plans in his fields of expertise. He also participated in international studies within the framework of EU accession negotiations, OECD committee meetings, and projects conducted by UNDP and the World Bank.
Prof. Dr. Cansız served as a Board Member of Technology Development Zones and took part in various commissions related to TÜBİTAK Entrepreneurship, Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), Venture Capital, and Social Research. In addition, he provided consultancy to Undersecretaries for many years within committees responsible for the implementation of industrial, entrepreneurship, and SME strategies, including the KOSGEB Executive Committee.
Since 2010, he has delivered courses on Entrepreneurship and Technology Management and Digital Transformation at Hacettepe University Faculty of Engineering and Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, as well as at Ankara Social Sciences University. His academic studies have focused on R&D, innovation, entrepreneurship, organized industrial zones, and technology development zones.
In August 2021, he was appointed Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the Faculty of Letters of Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University. During his tenure, he served as Rector’s Advisor, Director of the Tourism Research Institute, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Science and Letters, and Coordinator for Natural and Cultural Heritage Specialization.
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cansız was appointed Secretary General of the Ankara Chamber of Industry (ACI) on 14 June 2023 through an assignment from Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University. On 5 October 2023, he was appointed Professor.
At the Ordinary General Assembly of ACI Technopark Inc. held on 26 March 2024, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cansız, Secretary General of our Chamber, was appointed as a Member of the Board of Directors and General Manager of ACI Technopark Inc.