25.04.2024

EU and Türkiye deepen cooperation in the green and digital transition

Today, Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, and Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye, met in Istanbul for the second EU-Türkiye High-Level Dialogue on science, research, technology and innovation. This marks a significant milestone in EU-Türkiye research and innovation cooperation.

EUROPEAN UNIOIN, 2024

The two sides have announced that three innovation programmes from Türkiye are now certified to take part in the European Innovation Council (EIC) Plug-in scheme, which will enable them to submit projects from their portfolio directly to the full application stage of the EIC Accelerator. In addition, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) will set up a Community Hub in Türkiye by the end of the year. Moreover, the Commission’s Joint Research Centre has supported the launch of Türkiye’s initial roadmap to support the design of regional Smart Specialisation Strategies.

EUROPEAN UNIOIN, 2024

Commissioner Ivanova and Minister Kacır exchanged views on EU’s and Türkiye’s science, technology, and innovation policies, putting an emphasis on the critical role of a skilled workforce in enabling innovation and technology transfer. They reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying cooperation in the aforementioned areas, aiming for closer and deeper integration of Türkiye in the European Research Area, including EU Missions and Partnerships under Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme.
 
The meeting was an important moment to assess ongoing co-operation in critical sectors and to discuss future opportunities for collaboration between academia and business. The EU and Türkiye agreed that a stronger integration of research and innovation capacities and technology transfer activities, coupled with human capital development, are key to succeeding in the ongoing green and digital transitions.
 
The significant achievement of Turkish scientist Rana Sanyal, winner of the 2023-2024 European Prize for Women Innovators, was highlighted as a successful result of the EU-Türkiye innovation cooperation.

EUROPEAN UNIOIN, 2024

This afternoon, Commissioner Ivanova and Minister Kacır will also open the Boğaziçi University Life Science Centre. This centre has been upgraded thanks to nearly €8 million support from EU programmes. The Centre will perform cutting-edge research on protein sequencing and cancer therapy.

Background

Türkiye has participated in EU research and innovation programmes since 2003, with a total of €743 million in EU support to Turkish researchers and innovators. Their participation in Horizon Europe, the current programme, has been particularly successful. EU contribution to Turkish entities reached €91 million in 2022, supporting participation in EU Missions and Partnerships, Science, Technology and Innovation Networks such as Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) and EUREKA, as well as in Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, supporting the training, skills development and mobility of researchers and international doctoral programmes. Additionally, under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), the EU has provided more than €700 million financial support to the competitiveness and innovation of the Turkish economy, funding projects boosting productivity, technology development and innovation as well as promoting green and digital transformation.
 
The first EU-Türkiye High-Level Dialogue on science, research, technology, and innovation took place in Brussels on 15 November 2022, focusing on aspects of the European Green Deal in boosting human capital development, innovation and technology transfer.
 
On 1 September 2023, the two sides signed an agreement associating Türkiye to the Digital Europe Programme. This enables Turkish businesses, governmental bodies and other eligible entities to take part in projects implementing digital technologies. The agreement will also enable the establishment of Digital Innovation Hubs in Türkiye.

For more information

International cooperation with Türkiye
Horizon Europe
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
Europe’s Global Approach to Research and Innovation
Smart Specialisation Platform
Joint Research Centre
Erasmus +
European Solidarity Corps
The Digital Europe Programme
Single Market Programme

Quotes

“Close cooperation in research and innovation with like-minded partners is a key priority for the European Union. This is why our high-level dialogue was a milestone. We discussed how to deepen our already very successful cooperation even further. Together, we can succeed in the green and digital transitions quicker.”

Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth

“Turkish research and innovation ecosystems have emerged as pivotal collaborators in EU research and innovation programmes. In line with Türkiye’s status as a candidate country, we acknowledge with contentment that the engagement between Türkiye and the EU in the spheres of STI has yielded concrete outcomes. Adherence to principles of mutual benefit, between Türkiye and the EU, lays strong foundation to address global challenges and foster scientific advancement.”

Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye
 
Press Contacts
Johanna BERNSEL (+32 2 298 66 99)
Flore BOUTIER (+32 2 296 60 43)

24.04.2024

Commissioner Ferreira in Türkiye to visit areas recovering from the devastating 2023 earthquakes with the help of EU Solidarity Fund support

Tomorrow, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira will begin a two-day visit to Türkiye to see first-hand how EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) support has helped the country recover after the devastating earthquakes that hit the region of Gaziantep in February 2023. 

Following the signature of the agreement for EUSF assistance in February 2024, the Commission has transferred the €400 million grant from the EU Solidarity Fund to Türkiye, in line with the EU’s pledge of €1 billion of support to Türkiye at the International Donors' Conference in March 2023.  

Ahead of the visit, Commissioner Ferreira said: “This catastrophe, one of the worst in the country's history, shocked us all as we saw the devastating effects it had on local communities and the economy. In solidarity with the Turkish people, the EU was quick to mobilise €400 million from the EU Solidarity Fund, the highest amount ever awarded to a candidate country, as part of the €1 billion support pledged by the EU at the International Donors' Conference. EU support is a tangible expression of our solidarity, and the EUSF helps to turn our words into concrete actions on the ground.” 

During the visit, Commissioner Ferreira will hold meetings with members of government, including Hakan Fidan, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mehmet Kemal Bozay, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mehmet Şimşek, Minister for Treasury and Finance, and Ali Yerlikaya, Minister for Interior, to discuss the implementation of EUSF aid. 

On Thursday, the Commissioner will visit the earthquake-affected region of Gaziantep. In the town of Nurdağı, she will meet with residents impacted by the earthquakes and see the temporary homes that were built in response to its devastating effects. A press point for local journalists will be organised at 11:45 at the Temporary Accommodation Area (commonly referred to as ‘Container City’), at NUR 1 Konteyner Kent, Olucak, 27840 Nurdağı/Gaziantep.  

Afterwards, the Commissioner will visit an emergency hospital currently under construction in Nurdağı, followed by a meeting in Gaziantep with the Mayor and Governor of the region, which will include a short press point, and a visit to the Mosaic Museum. 

24.04.2024

Commissioner Ivanova visits Türkiye for second EU-Türkiye High-Level Dialogue on Science, Research, Technology and Innovation

Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, visits Istanbul tomorrow for an EU-Türkiye High Level Science, Research, Technology and Innovation Dialogue. Commissioner Ivanova will hold discussions with Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye, on topics of common interest related to green growth and digital transformation. 

A series of meetings and events will be organised during the visit. Commissioner Ivanova will award the European Prize for Women Innovators Award to Professor Rana Sanyal. The Commissioner will also participate at the European Innovation Council (EIC) Plug-in Scheme Award ceremony recognising the performance of three Turkish national innovation programmes, and the inauguration of the Boğaziçi University Life Science Centre. 

This dialogue is a crucial opportunity to evaluate the collaborative efforts in digital education and entrepreneurial skills. By the end of this year, the Commission will set up a Community Hub of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) in Türkiye. This Hub will serve as a one-stopshop, providing local innovators with information on the services and opportunities offered by the EIT.

18.04.2024

Commissioner Kyriakides in Türkiye to participate in the EU-Türkiye High Level Dialogue on Health

Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, is in Ankara today to participate in the EU-Türkiye High Level Dialogue (HLD) on Health, with Dr. Fahrettin Koca, Minister of Health of Türkiye.

The participants in the High-Level Dialogue will discuss shared priorities and matters of mutual interest in health, such as cross-border health threats, cancer prevention, treatment and care, mental health and cooperation in mitigating climate change. They will exchange best practices and discuss areas for further cooperation.

This is the second edition of the Dialogue, following its inaugural meeting in November 2021. The first Dialogue took place in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and demonstrated the importance of cross-border cooperation on health.