BLUEMED Initiative Workshop Was Organized in TÜBİTAK

In TÜBİTAK, the BLUEMED Initiative Workshop was organized on 27th of June 2018 in order to provide national contributions to the Strategic Innovation and Research Agenda (SRIA) of a European Union-led BLUEMED Initiative, which targets the development of a common vision about the Mediterranean to support sustainable management and use in the Mediterranean blue jobs and blue growth by basing on strengthening the coordination of research and innovation activities.

The workshop, which was attended by 45 participants from related Ministries and universities, started with the opening speech of the TÜBİTAK Vice President Dr. Orkun HASEKIOGLU. Following this speech, presentations on the subjects of blue growth and the Mediterranean, the Union for Mediterranean, BLUEMED Initiative, the development of initiative, BLUEMED Coordination and Support Action and the SRIA were made by the Middle East Technical University Institute of Marine Sciences, Turkey’s BLUEMED Initiative Working Group Member. In addition, the International Cooperation Department of TÜBİTAK shared the contributions and views of the related Ministries and TÜBİTAK’s departments in relation to the SRIA and the participants discussed how Turkey’s priorities can be reflected to the agenda.

The representatives from the Ministry of European Union Affairs, the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology, the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, the Ministry of Development, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications participated in the BLUEMED Initiative Workshop. The workshop was attended also by the representatives and researchers from the Middle East Technical University, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul University, Piri Reis University, Dokuz Eylul University, Cukurova University, Mersin University and Cukurova Development Agency.

At the end of the workshop, in order to prepare Turkey’s contribution to the related SRIA and share it with the European Commission, the participants were asked to send their suggestions and views in the format discussed during the workshop.