High-level meetings and reception during the GEMSTONE Dissemination Event lay the groundwork for future partnerships and cross-border knowledge exchange.
In parallel with the two-day dissemination event hosted at Acibadem University (ACU) on 17-18 June 2025, the GEMSTONE Project team engaged in a series of targeted networking activities aimed at deepening collaboration and expanding the impact of the Horizon Europe-funded initiative.
These moments of connection – ranging from strategic project meetings to informal discussions during the event’s closing reception – not only enriched the scientific programme but also fostered meaningful dialogue among leading researchers, institutional leaders, and international guests.
Strategic meeting with Lund and Szeged researchers
On the evening of 17 June, following the end of the day’s sessions, the GEMSTONE team held a focused networking meeting with two of the event’s distinguished international speakers, Assoc. Prof. Magor Laszlo Lorincz of the University of Szeged and Prof. Merab Kokaia of Lund University. The meeting was attended by GEMSTONE’s Principal Investigator Prof. Filiz Onat, WP2 leaders Assoc. Prof. Nihan Carcak Yilmaz and Assoc. Prof. My Andersson, and Project Manager Cem Ozturk.
The group reviewed the status of currently planned joint research initiatives and explored new opportunities for collaboration – particularly in the areas of epilepsy and neurodevelopmental disease research. Discussions emphasized the importance of building institutional bridges, sharing methodologies, and facilitating short-term researcher exchanges within the scope of upcoming project cycles.
Closing reception: A platform for cross-border dialogue
The event concluded on 18 June with a well-attended closing reception, offering a relaxed environment for participants and ACU staff to connect and reflect on the knowledge shared over the past two days. Among the key interactions was a conversation between Prof. Filiz Onat, Cem Ozturk, and ACU Vice-Rector Prof. Levent Altintas – who also leads WP6 in GEMSTONE – and international participants Assoc. Prof. Vihra Dimitrova and Assis. Prof. Kaloyan Varlyakov of the University of Telecommunications and Post in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Together, they discussed the prospect of co-organizing a high-level workshop involving rectors and scientific directors from both countries. This proposed event would aim to share best practices developed through the GEMSTONE Project in research management and cross-institutional capacity-building.
Building a sustainable ecosystem of knowledge exchange
The networking activities that took place during the dissemination event underscore GEMSTONE’s broader mission to reduce disparities in research capacity between Widening countries and leading European institutions. By bringing together stakeholders across institutions, disciplines, and borders, the project continues to pave the way for long-term, sustainable partnerships in neuroscience research.
As GEMSTONE enters its concluding phase, these collaborations will be instrumental in amplifying the project’s legacy and ensuring that its achievements continue to inspire, connect, and empower researchers across Europe and beyond.