Within the scope of the GEMSTONE Project at Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University (ACU), a major international networking and dissemination event will take place in Edirne, Turkey on 3 October 2025.
The event, titled “International Cooperation Project Calls Information Day: Multilateral and Bilateral Collaboration Opportunities,” is jointly organized by ACU and Trakya University’s Project Coordination Application and Research Centre, in collaboration with the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), the Trakya Universities Association (TUA), and partner universities from across the Balkans.
The meeting will convene policymakers, researchers, and research support staff to provide up-to-date information on international funding opportunities, foster new partnerships, and highlight best practices in international project management. By bringing together Turkish and Balkan institutions, the event aims to strengthen cross-border cooperation in science and research, in alignment with the objectives of Horizon Europe and other major frameworks.
GEMSTONE dissemination and networking in focus
As part of the programme, the ACU delegation will host a special session to present the project’s newly published book, “Making It Work: GEMSTONE Project’s Better Practices for Horizon Europe Newcomers.” This session will highlight GEMSTONE’s achievements in developing and sharing better practices across four thematic areas of research management and international cooperation, with the goal of enabling wider participation of institutions from Widening countries in European funding schemes. Printed copies of the book will be distributed to participants, further supporting knowledge transfer and active engagement in Horizon Europe.
The ACU team, consisting of Prof. Levent Altıntaş (Vice-Rector and GEMSTONE WP6 Leader), Prof. Filiz Onat (Primary Principal Investigator of GEMSTONE), Cem Öztürk (GEMSTONE Project Manager), and Dr. Cansu Akın Levi (Technology Transfer Office Specialist) will also take part in high-level networking and matchmaking activities throughout the event.
A rich programme of sessions and workshops
The programme will begin with an opening session featuring welcome addresses and honorary speeches by Turkish and Balkan university leaders. TÜBİTAK experts will then deliver information sessions on Horizon Europe, EU Framework Programmes, and bilateral and multilateral cooperation opportunities, followed by targeted workshops on joint initiatives in health education and cooperation with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
In the afternoon, a partner-matching workshop organized by TUA will give researchers and administrators the chance to explore collaboration opportunities and share best practices from EU-funded projects.
On 4 October 2025, participants will join an optional half-day cultural programme, discovering Edirne’s rich historical and scientific heritage, including visits to the Sultan Bayezid II Health Museum, Hıdırlık Bastion, and Karaağaç Campus.
Building momentum for future cooperation
This event represents the first outcome of the newly-established formal partnership between ACU and Trakya University, a collaboration to which GEMSTONE has significantly contributed. By connecting national and international actors, the Info Day will underscore the wealth of opportunities for Turkish and Balkan institutions to engage in bilateral and multilateral programme calls and set the stage for stronger scientific collaboration in Europe and beyond.
We invite all national and regional researchers, research managers, and policymakers from Widening institutions to join us in Edirne to build momentum towards more inclusive and impactful international cooperation.
Access the full programme and register
Please download the full programme here. Please complete the registration form here.