EGGSHELLS WILL GLAMORIZE!
Two young entrepreneur chemists found a solution for wrinkles, which is a major problem for women as well as men. Active substances popular in cosmetics world and health sector will be produced by entrepreneurs supported by Embryonix, Izmir University of Economics incubation centre. With their “Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen and Calcium Carbonate Production from Eggshell Waste" project, the young entrepreneurs will produce the substance called collagen, one of the most expensive substances also known for its fighting effect on wrinkles, with a gram costing almost one thousand lira.
Young entrepreneurs Ferda Önen and Gülsün Gonca Kandemir, who completed their studies in chemistry, were looking for a breakout for their projects, changed their lives when they came across Embryonix. The young entrepreneurs applied for Techno-Initiative Capital Support Program of Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology in 2012 and got rejected. But their luck turned around thanks to the presentation techniques and marketing, strategy, communication trainings they developed with Embryonix. When they applied again with their Embryonix Project, they qualified to receive the 100 thousand lira grant by the Ministry. They also applied at KOSGEB with the same projects and qualified to receive R&D innovation support for 2 years.
Taylan Özgür Demirkaya, Lecturer at Izmir University of Economics and Director of Embryonix Centre, indicated that they were supporting a chemistry project for the first time and said, “Centres supporting entrepreneurship usually support the innovative ideas in informatics. We are supporting a project in a different field for the first time, and giving a priority to female entrepreneurs creating a positive discrimination. We strongly believe that they will be very successful with their project.”
‘Embryonix became our guiding light’
Ferda Önen stated that their life turned around after hearing about job development projects of Embryonix, and they got encouraged to develop their project. She said, “Embryonix instilled a different vision in us. We learned about logo design, promotion, and marketing through Embryonix. Before we received our training, we used to deliver scientific presentations, but failed to share our innovative ideas, targets, and objectives. We were able to display the feasibility of our project with the help of Embryonix. We established our laboratory against all odds. When we receive our other materials, we will be up and running in no time.”
Gülsün Gonca Kandemir indicated that their project was environment friendly, and the eggshells were buried in soil as waste thus poisoning the soil due to calcium carbonate they contained. Kandemir stated that their dreams came real and said:
“One thousand grams of collagen is produced form a 200 kg waste. Collagen is the most sought for substance in cosmetics world currently. It is also known as anti-wrinkle substance in lotions. It rejuvenates the skin, and removes wrinkles. Active substances are also being used in stomach medicines. As a result of our project, we can obtain these valuable active substances from eggshells. In doing this, we are reusing waste material which may harm nature, and obtain a very expensive substance at the same time. We are planning on coming up with our own brand of lotion in the future.”
