Sabancı University and Fraunhofer IML, one of Germany's leading applied research centers, signed a Framework Agreement for Strategic Cooperation in Logistics. The international cooperation between Sabancı University and Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics will support Turkey's logistics industry towards becoming a global logistics hub.
The signing ceremony of the framework agreement between Sabancı University and Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics was held at Sabancı University on November 27, 2015. The ceremony was hosted by Sabancı University President Professor Nihat Berker and attending were Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Dean Professor Yusuf Menceloğlu, Fraunhofer IML Director Professor Michael Henke and Fraunhofer Institute Advisor Professor Mehmet Şükrü Tekbaş.
Logistics plays a great role in the foreign trade and economy of Turkey and bears great importance as a strategic area where all industries meet. Considering the recent growth in the logistics industry and Turkey's 2023 goals to reach an export volume of USD 500 billion, a GDP of USD 2 trillion and becoming a global logistics hub, the cooperation between Sabancı University and Fraunhofer IML becomes even more significant.
The objective of the Sabancı University-Fraunhofer cooperation is to conduct safe, effective and sustainable logistics operations that will increase the competitive strength of Turkey and provide economic, social and environmental value to the society, develop models that will solve the issues of the logistics industry, and implement effective logistics applications.
The logistics expertise of Sabancı University focuses on supply chain network design, distribution and collection planning, disaster logistics, sustainable transport planning, and development of decision support mechanisms based on optimization methods. In addition, there are efforts on smart transport systems, use of clean fuel-powered vehicles in logistics, and research on energy logistics. The cooperation also aims to establish new mechanisms for reinforcing university-industry partnerships, benefit from the methods and approaches developed by Fraunhofer Institute, and create value for the country by converting academic studies to tangible products and services. Fraunhofer’s mission is to undertake applied research. The cooperation with Sabancı University will enable Fraunhofer to bring its logistics knowhow to Turkey, and contribute to the development of innovative projects and applications in the field.
Sabancı University President Professor Nihat Berker said the following about the cooperation agreement: "There is no doubt that logistics is one of the keys to Turkey's development. Logistics is also a primary factor in three key areas that our university finds significant: research and development, civic involvement, and better university-industry partnerships. I believe this cooperation agreement will be an important step for both institutions and countries to achieve their objectives."
Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Dean Professor Yusuf Menceloğlu delivered a short presentation on the international achievements and partnerships of Sabancı University. Menceloğlu discussed the importance of the logistics industry for Turkey, where almost half the population is younger than 30, and said that the proximity of Sabancı University to the leading industrial companies in the area was a great benefit to logistics research.
Fraunhofer IML Director Professor Michael Henke spoke on the application-oriented logistics research in Germany and drew attention to the potential of the Turkish logistics industry to create value for all other industries. Henke continued: “As Fraunhofer, our main mission is to act as a liaison between research and application. It is possible to adapt the methods used by our Institute to Turkey. This university cooperation will reveal new strengths in Turkey, create synergy between industry and universities, and become a bridge that enables innovative and practical applications."
Bülent Çatay - Şevket Akınlar
The cooperation between the two institutions will be coordinated by ProfessorBülent Çatay from Sabancı University and Dr. Şevket Akınlar from Fraunhofer IML.