Govt to help young Turkish entrepreneurs set up in Silicon Valley

Under a new government initiative, 30 young Turkish entrepreneurs will be sent to Silicon Valley in the US each year, said Science, Industry and Technology Minister Nihat Ergun over the weekend. "If anyone says they have developed a new technology and are ready to manufacture it and put it to market, we will support them," said Ergun. "We will give them a place in a technopark. They will establish their own company with a minimum of expenditures. We will give grants of 100,000 Turkish liras." After supporting 288 entrepreneurs' projects this year, they plan to nearly double that number in 2012. "I believe there are many Bill Gates among these young entrepreneurs," he added. "I saw this potential in the young people. Turkey's future lies in this generation."