The launch meeting of the project entitled “Teaming for Capacity Development and Synergies in Micro-Nanofabrication and Flexible Electronics for Widespread Impact-TeamNANO”, started on November 6, 2024 and supported by the Horizon Europe Program Teaming call under the coordination of Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM) was held on January 30-31, 2025.
TeamNANO, which has the highest budget project given to a single institution in the history of our country with the evaluation of the European Union Commission, is carried out with the EU budget of 9 million Euros and the co-financing of the Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye within the scope of the HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-01 (Teaming for Excellence) call.
Emphasizing that a project from Türkiye has been funded for the first time in the Teaming calls that have been ongoing since Horizon 2020 with TeamNANO, SUNUM Director Prof. Dr. Alpagut Kara stated that this project aims to develop the devices and technological capabilities in SUNUM's clean room infrastructure through international cooperation. Kara stated that the project aims to increase our country's international competitive power in the field of science and technology and to take on a pioneering role in new generation flexible electronic systems and micro-nanofabrication processes.
The meeting hosted over 100 national and international participants from the public sector, universities, industry, private sector and research institutions on January 30.
“We have established solid bridges between the state, university, industry, and end users”
Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center - SUNUM Board of Directors Chair Cevdet Alemdar expressed that they are proud that the TeamNANO Project is the first Teaming project to be supported under the coordination of a Turkish institution in the history of the Türkiye-EU Framework Programs. Alemdar said, “With this project, SUNUM will take the work it is currently doing even further. Significant changes have occurred in SUNUM, especially in the last two years. SUNUM, as a center of excellence, has taken important steps to bring science closer to industry and technology. By building solid bridges between the state, university, industry, and end users, we have addressed the expectations of all parties with a holistic approach. Managing these relationships continues to be our main priority. Today, we are taking an important step by strengthening one of these bridges. A larger bridge is being built on our existing connections with Europe, and for the first time, Türkiye is receiving support through SUNUM in a science project. The dedication of the SUNUM team and their determination in the face of challenges have made this possible.”
“TeamNANO will guide industrial organizations in Türkiye and the world”
Sabancı University President Prof. Dr. Yusuf Leblebici, emphasized that the TeamNANO Project is an important breakthrough for our country’s advanced technology infrastructure and human resources as Sabancı University celebrates its 25 years. Leblebici said, “The TeamNANO project is a strategic initiative that aims to use the current capacity in the most efficient way and further develop it with additions, and will serve as a pilot facility in Türkiye and the region. This project will not only provide a platform for researching topics of interest, but will also be a center that will guide the industry and the steps of industrial organizations in Türkiye and the world in this field. The technologies to be developed here will pave the way for the industry and make significant contributions to the sector. This comprehensive and long-term project is a major breakthrough that covers many stages, starting from the most basic atomic level to the development of the most complex systems. We are very happy to bring this project to life under the roof of Sabancı University.”
“This six-year project focuses on future technologies”
TÜBİTAK Vice President Prof. Dr. Mesut Güner stated that he has been serving as a board member at SUNUM since 2017, when SUNUM was selected as one of the four national research infrastructures, and that it is a great source of happiness for him to join this meeting. Güner, who drew attention to the strategic importance of TeamNANO for our country, said, “TeamNANO has gone down in history as the project with the highest budget given to an institution by the European Commission and is implemented with the support of approximately 9 million Euros of EU funds as well as TÜBİTAK and the relevant ministry. This six-year project focuses on future technologies such as micro and nano fabrication and flexible electronics. It is of great importance to invest more in such projects in order to increase the share of high technology in our country's exports. The inclusion of scientists from abroad in the project is a great opportunity to expand our country's international competitive power and scientific network. At TÜBİTAK, we are very proud to support projects that advance science and technology.”
“Research infrastructures need to be brought together effectively”
Dr. Çetin Ali Dönmez, Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye, said that the effective use of research infrastructures and the development of a culture of cooperation in Türkiye are of great importance. Çetin Ali Dönmez continued, “Research infrastructures located in different cities across Türkiye need to be brought together more effectively. Beyond academy, industry, and public cooperation, the development of university-university and industry-industry cooperation is also of great importance. The successful practices of the European Union in this field can be an example for Türkiye. The private sector should increase its R&D investments. SUNUM, operating at Sabancı University, has been supported by the Ministry of Industry and Technology within the scope of Law No. 6550 since 2017 and resources are transferred through TÜBİTAK. TeamNANO, a cooperation project, is the result of the work in SUNUM, one of the most successful research infrastructures. Within the scope of Türkiye’s industry and technology strategy, research infrastructures will be taken to higher levels with long-term, predictable support programs.”
“A sustainable structure should be created in terms of cooperation”
Karina Firkaviciute, TeamNANO European Union Project Manager, drew attention to the importance of developing opportunities and shaping projects in a way that will create an impact in the country. Firkaviciute said, “We can start small, but it is possible to reach big goals with small steps. There is serious added value and real potential here. It is possible for universities to make great progress and even lead changes and impacts throughout the country. Therefore, you should evaluate opportunities in different areas and be open to our support. Engineering and nanotechnology are very popular today. You can accelerate your development by sharing information with all your partners. It is important to take the infrastructure even further by protecting it. A sustainable structure should be created not only in terms of scientific development but also cooperation. At this point, we expect a strong and determined partnership from all partners.”
Following the launch meeting, the TeamNANO Project consortium meeting was held on January 31, 2025. Researchers and officials from TU The University of Southampton (United Kingdom), Delft University of Technology (Netherlands), and SUNUM attended the meetings that lasted all day. The meeting started with a visit to the laboratory and clean room, which included SUNUM's existing infrastructure and planned modernization works, and the critical points of the project, research components and business development strategies were evaluated in detail. Karina Firkaviciute, TeamNANO European Union Project Officer, provided important information about the project implementation process.
TeamNANO aims to modernize the devices and technological capabilities in SUNUM's clean room infrastructure in collaboration with The University of Southampton (UK) and Delft University of Technology (Netherlands). In this context, TeamNANO aims to increase our country's international competitive power in the field of science and technology and to take a leading role in next-generation flexible electronic systems and micro-nanofabrication processes.
Funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe Program, Grant No: 101136388