Hosted by Sabancı University, the 2nd Workshop on Quantum Computing and Quantum Information Theory will be held on the Sabancı University Altunizade Digital Campus on Friday, August 15, 2025.

The workshop, moderated by Sabancı University Vice President Mehmet Yıldız, will begin with an opening speech by Sabancı University President Yusuf Leblebici.

Featuring valuable insights from renowned national and international people in the quantum field, the workshop will include sessions by Markus Grassl from the International Center for Theory of Quantum Technologies (ICTQT) at the University of Gdansk, Dr. Solomon Brhanu Samuel from the Department of Technology and Economics at the University of Budapest, Prof. Dr. Kadir Akın from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), Yuval Bolgar from QuEra Computing Inc., Yixin Shen from the Inria Center at the University of Rennes, and Özlem Salehi Köken from Algorithmiq.

Date:

August 15, 2024

Location:

Sabancı University, Altunizade Digital Campus

Program:

09:30 – Yusuf Leblebici (Opening speech)

10.00 – 11.00 Markus Grassl

11.00 – 11.30 Break

11.30 – 12.00 Solomon Brhanu Samuel

12.00 – 12.30 Kadir Akın

12.30 – 14.30 Break

14.30 – 15.30 Yuval Bogar

15.30 – 16.00 Yixin Shen

16.00 - 16.30 Özlem Salehi Köken

The STEP-15 (Sustainable Transport and Engagement Programmes for 15-minute cities) project, in which Sabancı University participates as a research partner, has been selected for funding under the Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) Partnership 2024 Call, supported by the European Commission.

Aiming to make cities more livable, accessible and sustainable, the project seeks to accelerate the transition to the 15-minute city (15mC) concept by developing the necessary tools and methodologies. As part of the project, a 15mC Readiness Rating System will be created to analyze current urban mobility infrastructures and provide data-driven indicators for identifying areas in need of improvement.

The STEP-15 project will implement its solutions, designed to be adaptable to different urban contexts, through two pilot initiatives: in Postojna, Slovenia, the focus will be on encouraging walking and cycling to school; in Masquefa, Spain, the aim is to enhance accessible transport infrastructure for children and individuals with reduced mobility.

The three-year project will be carried out in partnership with Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya (Spain), Sabancı University (Türkiye), University of Nova Gorica (Slovenia), the Municipality of Postojna (Slovenia) and the Municipality of Masquefa (Spain). Represented by Dr. Duygu Taş Küten (principal investigator) and Dr. Esra Koca (researcher) affiliated with Sabancı University Smart Mobility and Logistics Lab is responsible for conducting the development of optimization models and decision-support tools in the fields of logistics, transportation and sustainable urban planning, while also coordinating the project’s communication and dissemination activities within DUT Knowledge Hub.

Sabancı University will organize a full-day in-person workshop titled "AI-Supported Project Development and Management" on July 30, 2025, from 09:30 to 16:30, in FMAN G013, organized as part of the Horizon Europe Twinning Project enCRYPTON. 

The event is open to researchers, project managers, and professionals interested in integrating artificial intelligence tools into research and innovation management processes.

Led by İsmail Sincik, the workshop will cover core topics including:

• Fundamentals of Project Management

• AI Support in Project Proposal Writing and Management Processes

• Tools for Budgeting, Time Management, and Risk Analysis

• Overview of Key Applications and Prompting Techniques

• Recent Developments in Artificial Intelligence

• Real-Life Examples of Productivity Enhancement through AI

Participants will benefit from hands-on sessions, prompt demonstrations, and practical insights on improving proposal quality and project execution using AI tools.

There is no registration fee, but seats are limited.

To secure your spot, please contact kadriye.kahraman@sabanciuniv.edu or tugce.akkas@sabanciuniv.edu.

This event is funded by the Horizon Europe programme under Grant 101079319.

The cooperation was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently signed between the two institutions. The agreement lays the foundation for student exchange programs, joint research initiatives, co-supervised theses, and faculty collaboration. As part of the student exchange program, two students from Sabancı University's Materials Science and Nanoengineering and Computer Science programs will study at WPI during the 2025–2026 academic year, further deepening the collaborative ties between the institutions.

As part of this collaboration, Sabancı University has officially become a WPI Project Center, joining a global network of 77 WPI centers around the world. This structure enables undergraduate students at WPI to carry out interdisciplinary, community-engaged projects abroad, applying their academic knowledge to address pressing local challenges.

Currently, under the academic supervision of Köksal Mus (WPI), a cohort of 12 WPI students is conducting their Interactive Qualifying Projects (IQP) in Istanbul in cooperation with Sabancı University. This year's projects focus on a range of  pre and post-disaster topics including search-and rescue strategies, humanitarian logistics, and urban risk assessment, and are being carried out in coordination with local authorities and NGOs such as IBB, AKUT, Kızılay, and AFAD, as well as individuals like Nasuh Mahruki, the former president of the AKUT Association.

A Highlight Project: Survivor Tracking – A Wireless Approach for Rescuers

This project proposes a cost-effective, easy-to-deploy wireless system designed to help Search and Rescue (SAR) teams locate survivors by detecting mobile device signals beneath collapsed structures. In post-earthquake scenarios where communication infrastructure is often compromised, this technology offers a scalable solution to improve response time and increase survival rates.

The project is conducted by a multidisciplinary WPI student team:  

• Azura Simsek, BS and MS student in Robotics Engineering

• Clive Thompson, BS student in Computer Science, minor in Electrical & Computer Engineering

• Aksel Jensen, BS and MS student in Neuroscience, with studies in Computer Science and Bioinformatics

• Oscar Ivy, BS student in Aerospace and Robotics Engineering

Working together, the team is designing a prototype system that can be deployed by SAR teams in dense urban areas like Istanbul. The concept emphasizes portability, real-time feedback, and resilience under infrastructure failure conditions.  

Other Projects (WPI Student Teams):

• Recommend strategies to reduce the risk of catastrophe given a large seismic event within the city.

• Research strategies to optimize post disaster search and rescue efforts using data-driven strategies and international benchmarking.

• Optimizing pre and post disaster response and relief efforts to effectively support the affected populus.

This collaboration between Sabancı University and WPI exemplifies a mutual dedication to interdisciplinary education, global engagement, and addressing real-world challenges. Through such initiatives, Sabancı University continues to strengthen its dynamic role in innovative education and research, contributing meaningfully to science and society.

Welcome Lunch with the Dean

A welcome lunch was held for the WPI students currently conducting their projects at Sabancı University, hosted by Erkay Savaş, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences. The event was attended by Köksal Mus (WPI), faculty members Hüsnü Yenigün (Vice Dean); Altuğ Tanaltay, IRO representatives as well as buddy students supporting the visiting group.

For detailed descriptions and project updates, please visit here