LocationsUNDP ICPSD and Doğuş University Launch Report on Empowering Entrepreneurs in the On-Demand Economy
March 5, 2026
The launch event convened representatives from academia, the private sector and development institutions to discuss the implications of the on-demand economy for skills development, entrepreneurship and inclusive growth in Türkiye and other developing contexts.
Istanbul, 26 February 2026 — UNDP’s Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (ICPSD), in partnership with Doğuş University, launched the joint report “Building Skills for an Agile Age: How to Empower Entrepreneurs for the On-Demand Economy” at Doğuş University’s Dudullu Campus.
The launch event convened representatives from academia, the private sector and development institutions to discuss the implications of the on-demand economy for skills development, entrepreneurship and inclusive growth in Türkiye and other developing contexts.
The on-demand economy has become an increasingly structural component of contemporary labour markets, shaped by digital platforms, remote work technologies and evolving employment models. While platform-based and task-driven work models create new income opportunities, they also raise important questions around employability, regulatory frameworks and social protection. The newly launched report addresses these issues by offering an analytical overview of cloud work, entrepreneurship pathways and international policy experiences.
The event opened with welcome remarks by Prof. Dr. Erkut Altındağ, Vice Rector of Doğuş University, followed by opening remarks by Gökhan Dikmener, Chief Technical Advisor for AI, Digital Transformation and Skills at UNDP ICPSD. In his remarks, Dikmener emphasized the importance of bridging research, policy and private sector practice in navigating the future of work.
The keynote address was delivered by Serdar Urçar, Managing Director of HP Türkiye, who highlighted the role of technology providers and private sector actors in strengthening digital skills ecosystems and preparing entrepreneurs for emerging labour market models.
The report’s key findings and recommendations were presented by Prof. Dr. Halit Targan Ünal of Doğuş University. The presentation outlined the structural characteristics of the on-demand economy, examined its opportunities and risks, and discussed policy considerations related to skills development, entrepreneurship support mechanisms and regulatory evolution.
The launch continued with a panel discussion titled “Leveraging Cloudwork for Inclusive Development: Skills, Innovation, and Opportunities for Developing Countries.” The session brought together diverse perspectives from academia, private sector leadership and development practice.
Panelists included:
Dr. Hande Baloğlu Toker, Sustainability Manager and Strategy Lead for Central and Eastern Europe, HP
Can Çakır, Director of TAM, INGEV
Başak Taşpınar Değim, Co-Founder and CEO, Armut
Dr. Halit Duran, Entrepreneurship Research and Partnerships Analyst, UNDP ICPSD
The panel explored how on-demand work can expand access to economic opportunities, particularly for youth and women, while underscoring the need for structured skills development programmes, regulatory clarity and multi-stakeholder collaboration. Speakers reflected on the role of digital platforms in shaping entrepreneurship pathways and discussed how development actors and private sector institutions can work together to build more resilient and inclusive digital labour ecosystems.
By bringing together research insights and practical experience, the launch positioned the report as a reference resource for policymakers, programme designers and ecosystem actors working at the intersection of digital transformation, entrepreneurship and inclusive development.
The full report is available here.
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