Gravity and the Artificial Pancreas: GREAT Festival of Creativity meets Istanbul

A woman drifts terrified in space, gazing down on earth.  A factory turns out millions of computers for $25 each.  A craftsman explains why high-tech car design still starts with a sculpted clay model.

We’re at “The Seed” in Emirgan, north of Istanbul.  Far below, the blue waters of the Bosphorus sparkle.  On the terrace above, hundreds of British and Turkish creative types are meeting to discuss business opportunities and attend master classes and seminars on cutting-edge technology and design.

Istanbul hosted the first ever “GREAT Festival of Creativity” from 20-22 May because of Turkey’s importance to Britain, and the world economy, as “Europe’s emerging market”.  The objective was to highlight UK creativity and generate business opportunities in education; technology; design; fashion; luxury; food and drink, and healthcare.

I’ve got to admit to being impressed myself at the UK creativity on show.  I hadn’t realised that the whole of the film “Gravity” was shot in a studio in the UK; that Raspberry Pi’s famous $25 computer was manufactured in South Wales; quite how many new models Jaguar Land Rover had introduced in recent years; or that Leicester’s de Montfort University recently invented an award-winning artificial pancreas.

The quality of the Festival was superb, attracting 1500 guests, including 146 British and 333 Turkish companies.  42 companies formed three accompanying parallel healthcare, luxury and future cities trade missions; and we were delighted to welcome Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek to the Festival site.

You can see videos and photographs from the Festival at the Festival website.

British creative talent in the interactive discussions, master classes and panels at “The Seed” ranged from perfume guru Jo Malone through designer Mary Katrantzou and chef Tom Kitchin to Tim Davie, CEO of BBC Worldwide and Jaguar design chief Julian Thomson.  On the opening night, the great Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins delivered a moving tribute to the victims of the Soma mining disaster.

In parallel with the Festival, trade mission members made site visits – organised with the British Chamber of Commerce in Turkey – to major hospitals, retail centres and urban redevelopments and had 1:1 business development discussions with Turkish partners and business surgeries on and off the Festival site.  HSBC and other sponsors also brought their own clients, creating additional business opportunities.

The GREAT Festival of Creativity will now move on to the Asian mega-cities of Hong Kong and Shanghai.  We’re hoping also to see it again in Istanbul before too long.  Watch this space!  And if you’re interested in doing business in Turkey, or in investing in the UK, please do contact us on uktiturkey@fco.gov.uk.