As part of its internationalization strategy, our university has signed significant collaborations in high-level contacts with leading universities and research institutions in Germany. The Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed during the working visit conducted by our university administration quickly yielded concrete results. Following these visits, three important German institutions joined the Horizon Europe HARVESTT project as partners, with preparations coordinated by our university.

High-Level Delegation's Visit to Germany

Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Erol Yaşar, our Vice Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Öztürk, and our Dean of Research, Prof. Dr. Caner Özdemir, conducted a series of working visits to Germany in coordination with our University's Dean of Research and the Mersin Technology Transfer Office (Mersin TTO). As part of the program, visits were made to Fraunhofer IOSB (Karlsruhe), Hochschule Karlsruhe (Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), University of Stuttgart, Technische Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe (TH OWL), CIIT (Centrum Industrial IT), and Fraunhofer IOSB INA (Lemgo), all leading institutions in Europe's research and innovation ecosystem. During these visits, comprehensive meetings were held with university administrations, research centers, and technology transfer offices. Following these meetings, Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between the institutions, encompassing long-term collaborations in research, innovation, and technology transfer.

**Joining Forces in Research and Innovation**

The meetings addressed topics such as joint R&D activities, technology transfer, intellectual property management, entrepreneurship, support for spin-off and spin-out companies, shared use of research infrastructure, industry-university collaborations, and the development of joint projects under European Union funding programs. The parties reached a consensus on developing joint projects, increasing researcher mobility, and establishing long-term strategic partnerships, particularly within the framework of Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Interreg, COST, Digital Europe, and other European Union programs.

The most notable outcome of the visits to Germany was the rapid transformation of collaborations into concrete projects. Technische Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe (TH OWL), Fraunhofer IOSB-INA, and CIIT (Centrum Industrial IT) joined as international partners in the international project proposal titled "HARVESTT - Harvesting Academic Research via Exploitation, Startup (Spin-off, Spin-out) Support and Technology Transfer," prepared under the leadership of our university and submitted to the European Commission's "From Lab to Market: Strengthening the Role of Technology Transfer Offices in Bringing Knowledge to the Market (HORIZON-EIE-2026-03-CONNECT-01)" call. This development is considered a significant success in terms of the rapid transformation of signed cooperation protocols into international research partnerships.

Rector Prof. Dr. Yaşar: "We are Transforming International Collaborations into Concrete Projects"

Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Erol Yaşar, stated that the visits were a significant milestone for our University's internationalization goals, adding:

"As a university, we aim not only to sign international protocols but also to transform these collaborations into concrete projects in the fields of research, innovation, and technology transfer. The fact that the contacts we made in Germany have already transformed into strong project partnerships within the framework of Horizon Europe on our return journey is the most important indicator that we are following the right strategy. We believe that these strong relationships we have established with leading universities and research institutions in Europe will further develop in the coming period through joint research projects, academic collaborations, researcher mobility, and technology transfer activities."

Our Position in the European Research Ecosystem is Strengthening

Our university aims to establish lasting partnerships with leading research and innovation institutions in Europe, increase research excellence, strengthen technology transfer capacity, and accelerate the transformation of produced knowledge into economic and social value. The study visit to Germany is considered a significant milestone that increases our university's visibility in the international research and innovation ecosystem, and it also forms a strong foundation for future Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and other international projects.