The Ottoman Empire’s first capital city has transformed itself into a forward-looking community of three million while maintaining its cultural roots and skill at bringing together groups for collaboration. Bursa is a UNESCO Heritage site where one can still see the Ottoman’s urban planning. Our conversation with Demet Sinmez, Head of the Smart Urbanism branch of the metropolitan municipality ranges from Bursa’s focus on SMEs, education to one of its great quality of life treasures: its annual gastronomy festival. Bursa is proud of its historic achievement in the ICF program and is a case study of an historic, proud city balancing history, humanity and the need to keep pace with the economic development requirements of the Digital Age.

Demet Sinmez graduated from Uludağ University in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. She began her professional career in the private sector, specializing in the Internet of Things (IoT) and telecommunications systems for approximately 12 years.

In 2009, she joined Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, where she served as an IoT and software development specialist across various departments. During this period, she played an active role in critical infrastructure and software projects aimed at driving citywide digital transformation. For the past year, she has been serving as the Head of the Smart Urbanism Branch, leading teams that develop strategic projects supporting urban innovation ecosystems, with a focus on citywide data analytics, communication networks, sustainable urban solutions, and smart city technologies.