Allianz Technical Earthquake and Fire Testing and Training Center, Allianz Turkey’s establishment inside the campus of Turkish-German University in Beykoz, began its activities with an opening ceremony held on 15 October 2019. The ceremony was hosted by Tolga Gürkan, Chief Executive Officer of Allianz Turkey; and was also attended by Sergio Balbinot, Member of the Board at Allianz Group; Cansen Başaran-Symes, Chairwoman of Allianz Sigorta and Allianz Hayat ve Emeklilik; Arif Aytekin, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Allianz Turkey; and Prof. Dr. Halil Akkanat, President of Turkish-German University.

“Taking precautions is possible by increasing social risk awareness”

Chief Executive Officer Tolga Gürkan said that they aimed to make a contribution to increase risk awareness in society through Allianz Technical Earthquake and Fire Testing and Training Center. He added that they have broken yet another new ground in Turkish insurance market as the leader of new-generation insurance in Turkey: “According to AFAD, earthquake is the highest-risk natural disaster in Turkey with a risk score of 9.3. However, 7 out of every 10 people in our country believe that their homes are safe even if they have not got it examined. According to Allianz’s ‘Risk Barometer’, which is a global research on the risks facing the business world, fire is also among top 10 risks in our country. Extreme fires we experienced last year and recent earthquake in 27 September with a magnitude of 5.8 remind us all that we still have a long way to go in reaching risk awareness. The most important step against these serious risks faced by our country is to take precautions before the risks becomes a reality. The way to achieve this is through increasing individual and corporate awareness. That’s where we based our dream on as Allianz Turkey. We aim to make a contribution to increase social risk awareness about fire and earthquake risks faced by our country.”

“Allianz Teknik, which was established with an investment of 30 million TL, is the first facility in Turkey that is compatible with international accreditation standards and combines fire and earthquake tests of this magnitude under a single roof. We regard this center as a significant step towards increasing social risk awareness in Turkey where we will carry out awareness-raising activities against fires and earthquakes,” he said.

“We hold up Allianz Turkey as an example for all the countries we operate in”

Sergio Balbinot, Member of the Board at Allianz Group, stated that Allianz Turkey had a strategic importance among other geographies where Allianz is operational. “Turkey has a serious potential to increase the share of insurance sector in economy and to raise insurance awareness; and is therefore listed among the top rows of our long-term investment list. 1 billion EUR that we have invested in Turkey since 2008 is the most significant proof of our belief and permanency in this country,” he said; and emphasized that Allianz Teknik is an exemplary project for the world. “When Allianz Turkey team proposed Allianz Group to establish such a center with the aim of raising social risk awareness against fire and earthquake risks, we accepted the idea excitedly. In addition to being the third testing center of Allianz Group, Allianz Teknik is our first testing center outside Germany. We hold up Allianz Turkey as an example for all the countries we operate in with its ability to pioneer its market in innovation, technology-oriented new-generation insurance applications, and sustainability, in addition to their successful financial results and agile approach in conducting business,” Balbinot added.

“We aim to contribute the cooperation between Turkey and Germany”

“As stated in our establishment treaty, we pursue the goal of combining the best achievements of Turkish and German university traditions in research and teaching fields. Prof. Dr. Halil Akkanat, President of the Turkish-German University, It is focused on developing a distinctive profile within the Turkish university landscape through close partnership cooperation with a consortium of German universities and through intensive cooperation with Turkish and German companies and institutions. We aim to make significant contribution to scientific, economic and cultural cooperation between two countries. Our cooperation with Allianz Turkey on the occasion of this testing and training center we are opening today, is the most important indicator of the fact that we are moving forward in light of those targets. We regard this center also as one of the major examples of university-industry partnership. Our biggest wish is to spread this cooperation between these two institutions to all fields.”

Allianz Group’s first testing center outside Germany

Established on a land of 2500 square meters, Allianz Teknik, has a closed space of 1400 square meters and an open space of 1100 square meters. The compound consists of 10 main sections including an earthquake laboratory, earthquake training hall, conference hall with earthquake simulation and spray rooms, fire training hall, fire pump room, smoke escape simulation room, clean fire simulation and a fire reaction laboratory.

Allianz Teknik, is Allianz Group’s third testing center in the world after the two testing centers in Munich, and is also the group's first testing center that serves in the fields of earthquake and fire. As a facility that is compliant with international accreditation standards, Allianz Teknik will offer certification and training programs in addition to hosting fire and earthquake tests for the industry. The center will also provide professional risk consultancy services, and also aims to contribute to the training of qualified technicians and engineers for the public and private sectors by acting together with the professional organizations and universities. Besides giving support to academic works, Allianz will also offer scientific programs for university students, and informative studies and training programs for young people and children.