M. Erdem Samut

Erdem Samut studied Electronics and Communication Engineering at Istanbul Technical University (ITU)

He began his professional career in 1998 as a software engineer at a Dutch-based company developing naval defense systems for the defense industry. In 2000, he transitioned to the telecommunications sector, joining Comverse (USA), where he held various positions including Turkey & Cyprus Operations Manager, Balkans Regional Operations Manager, Project Manager, Sales Manager, and from 2007 onwards, Country Manager for Türkiye. During this period, he pursued a master’s degree at Yeditepe University and began his doctoral studies. In 2008, Samut completed a scholarship-based executive master’s program in Information and Communication Technologies at the Strathclyde Business School in the United Kingdom. Returning to Türkiye in 2009, he founded his own company, leading numerous TÜBİTAK-supported projects in telecommunications and smart city technologies, developing patents and utility models, and launching Türkiye’s first IoT platform. He also spearheaded the establishment of the Communication Technologies Cluster and spent 10 years working in technoparks. In 2019, he sold his company shares and, between 2019 and 2022, focused on start-up investments through international funds.

From 2022 to 2024, Samut served as Smart City Technology Coordinator at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, where his "Disaster-Oriented Digital Twin Project" received three national and two international awards. In January 2025, he joined İSBAK as Deputy General Manager for Technology and R&D, and by July 2025, he was appointed General Manager.