The first National Info Day organized under the Technical Assistance for Türkiye in Horizon Europe Project was successfully held on 31 October 2025, under the coordination of TÜBİTAK and in collaboration with the Governorship of Antalya.
The event, which attracted strong participation from more than 120 stakeholders across the research and innovation ecosystem of Antalya and its surroundings, brought together universities, technoparks, public institutions, and private sector representatives who had the opportunity to explore, assess, and develop new collaborations within the framework of the Horizon Europe Programme.
The opening speech was delivered by Mr. Çağrı YILDIRIM, Head of the EU Framework Programmes Department at the TÜBİTAK Directorate for International Cooperation. In his address, Mr. Yıldırım provided a comprehensive overview of Türkiye’s position within the European Union research and innovation ecosystem, elaborating on EU funding opportunities, the current performance under Horizon Europe, and the thematic clusters under the Global Challenges and Industrial Competitiveness pillar. He also highlighted the components of Excellent Science, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and researcher mobility schemes, Research Infrastructures, and the Innovative Europe pillar, illustrating each with concrete examples. Furthermore, Mr. Yıldırım drew attention to Türkiye’s progress and success stories in these areas and shared detailed information about the structure of the National Coordination Office for EU Framework Programmes, its communication channels, support and award mechanisms, and upcoming events.
Following the opening session, Dr. George Dimitrakopoulos, Team Leader of the Project, delivered a comprehensive presentation introducing the overall framework, objectives, and ongoing activities of the Technical Assistance Project in Türkiye.
Dr. Dimitrakopoulos emphasized the Project’s role in strengthening Türkiye’s participation in the Horizon Europe ecosystem and the capacity-building support provided to enhance engagement and performance.
Throughout the event, Mr. Erencan Bal, National Contact Point at the TÜBİTAK Directorate for International Cooperation, shared updates on the European Innovation Council (EIC), European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE), and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). He provided participants with information on current developments, funding opportunities, and open calls, while also answering their questions and offering direct guidance.
The full-day National Info Day continued with comprehensive presentations and interactive sessions delivered by Dr. George Dimitrakopoulos, Team Leader, and Dr. Nikolaos Floratos, Training Coordinator. Drawing on rich content compiled from European Union best practices and literature, participants gained in-depth insights into various aspects of the Horizon Europe Programme — from project design and consortium management to evaluation criteria and innovative approaches.
Through interactive sessions, they also had the opportunity to receive direct expert guidance on call preparation processes and proposal development strategies.
The event significantly contributed to strengthening the links between the Turkish Research Area (TARAL) and the European Research Area (ERA). As a result, the Antalya region took another important step forward in achieving greater visibility and participation within the Horizon Europe Programme.
Organized under the Technical Assistance for Türkiye in Horizon Europe Project, which is co-financed by the European Union and the Republic of Türkiye within the framework of the Competitive Sectors Programme, implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Technology as the Contracting Authority and TÜBİTAK as the End Beneficiary, the event marked a significant milestone in the Project’s outreach efforts.
All event presentations and materials are available below:
Horizon Europe Programme Info Day - Çağrı Yıldırım
Navigating Horizon Europe: Financial Essentials - Prof. Dr. Eng. George Dimitrakopoulos
From Idea to Proposal: Key Steps & Best Practices - Nikolaos FLORATOS