Turkey supports internation R&D cooperation

On 19 January 2011, TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) held an Opening Event on EUREKA and the Clusters in Istanbul. This event has attracted around 100 organisations (SMEs and large companies, universities and R&D institutions) interested in international R&D cooperation. 

The morning session aimed at giving an overview on some of EUREKA’s different mechanisms to support international R&D cooperation. Eurostars Project Officer Isoline Roger-Dalbert gave an introduction on the EUREKA initiative and more specifically on the Eurostars Programme. Director of CELTIC+ Office, Heinz Bruggemann, presented the EUREKA Cluster CELTIC+, the only European R&D programme in ICT fully dedicated to end-to-end telecommunication solutions. It was complemented by the presentation of the CELTIC Story of Turkcell by Mr Berkin
Toktas from Turkcell (leading mobile phone operator of Turkey and CELT IC Core group member). Director of ITEA 2 Office Fopke KLOK presented the EUREKA Cluster ITEA 2, a strategic pan-European programme for advanced pre-competitive R&D in software for Software-intensive Systems and Services (SiS), Mr Özgün ALGIN from Mobilera (Turkish company specialised in mobile marketing and advertising), continued with a presentation of Mobilera’s participation to ITEA 2.

The event was considered as a great success with a large number of participants taking the opportunity to directly discuss issues with the 
speakers and meet with the Turkish EUREKA Project Officer throughout the afternoon. 25 bilateral meetings between participants and
Turkish Project Officers were organised during the afternoon session.