The program titled “Inter-University Cooperation in Local and Regional Development: Opportunities to Access EU – TÜBİTAK Funds,” organized by Uşak University, was held at the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Congress and Culture Center.

The program was attended by Governor Serdar Kartal, Uşak University Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Demir, Afyon Kocatepe University Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Karakaş, Director General of Financial Cooperation and Project Implementation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Bülent Özcan, TÜBİTAK Vice President Prof. Dr. Mesut Güner, TÜBİTAK Research Support Programs Directorate (ARDEB) Vice President Assoc. Dr. Cengiz Arıcı, provincial protocol, academics, representatives of organized industrial zones, technology transfer office representatives, technopark officials, representatives of public institutions, business people, and students.

At the event; The program addressed issues such as developing the research capacity of universities, spreading a project culture, and accessing national and international funding sources.

The Role of Universities in Regional Development Was Emphasized

Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Demir, who delivered the opening speech of the program, stated that universities are not only educational institutions but also research and production centers that contribute to regional development. Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Demir said, “As Uşak University, we see it as our primary goals to benefit more effectively from national and international funds, to increase academic, sectoral and regional collaborations, and to make the potential of our region more visible through projects.”

Drawing attention to the importance of inter-university cooperation, Rector Prof. Dr. Demir stated that EU and TÜBİTAK funds offer significant opportunities in supporting scientific projects, and mentioned Bülent Özcan, General Director of Financial Cooperation and Project Implementation at the Presidency of European Union Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Prof. Dr. Mesut Güner, Vice President of TÜBİTAK, and Assoc. Dr. Cengiz Arıcı thanked the provincial protocol and representatives of organized industrial zones, technoparks, technology centers, and technology transfer offices operating in the Aegean Region for their participation.

TÜBİTAK Support Programs Explained

In the morning session of the event, TÜBİTAK Vice President Prof. Dr. Mesut Güner gave a presentation titled "Our Country's R&D and Innovation Ecosystem: The Role of TÜBİTAK". Prof. Dr. Güner emphasized that in the information age, knowledge production has ceased to be merely an academic activity; it has transformed into a powerful tool that enables the commercialization of knowledge. Stating that collaborations between academia, the private sector, and public institutions accelerate this process, Güner expressed that the transformation of knowledge into value and its becoming the fundamental driving force of global development is only possible through this tripartite collaboration.

Following TÜBİTAK Vice President Prof. Dr. Güner, TÜBİTAK Research Support Programs Directorate (ARDEB) Vice President Assoc. Dr. Cengiz Arıcı gave a presentation. Assoc. Dr. Arıcı provided information about the scope of TÜBİTAK support programs, application processes, project preparation stages, and support mechanisms that universities can utilize in their research projects.

European Union Programs and Research-Innovation Ecosystem Discussed

As part of the program, Bülent Özcan, General Director of Financial Cooperation and Project Implementation at the Presidency of European Union Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, also gave a presentation on "European Union Programs and Opportunities for the Research-Innovation Ecosystem in Turkey".

In his presentation, Bülent Özcan made assessments regarding European Union funding mechanisms, international project partnerships, and Turkey's opportunities in the field of research and innovation.

In the continuation of his speech, Bülent Özcan drew attention to the opportunities offered by TÜBİTAK by outlining a special roadmap for students and academics. Detailing the grant and support options specialized according to the application areas, Özcan emphasized that TÜBİTAK's financial and guidance support plays a critical role in the realization of projects.

Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ Programs Explained

Stating that internationalization is not a choice but a necessity, Bülent Özcan particularly emphasized the Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ programs. He stated that these programs are not only a source of funding; they are indispensable for increasing the networking capacity of Türkiye's research and innovation ecosystem with Europe and for ensuring academic mobility. He concluded by stating that young researchers and universities taking a more active role in these platforms will directly contribute to Turkey's technological and scientific transformation.

 Joint Project Studies on Regional Problems Were Conducted

In the afternoon session, representatives from organized industrial zones, technoparks, technology centers, and technology transfer offices operating in the Aegean Region participated in idea and project development activities. The session evaluated opportunities for collaboration aimed at finding solutions to regional problems, and discussions focused on developing a shared project culture and increasing inter-institutional coordination.