An introductory Meeting on Project Opportunities Within the Scope of EU Support organized by the KAEU Technology Transfer Office (TTO) was held at the Ahi Evran Congress and Culture Center. The meeting held on February 21, 2024  was attended by Kırşehir Governor Mete Buhara, Rector of KAEU Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil, the Director-General for Financial Cooperation and Project Implementation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate for EU Affairs Bülent Özcan, Vice-Rectors Prof. Dr. Ali Güneş and Prof. Dr. Musa Özata, provincial directors, academicians, administrative staff, and students.

There is a need for more initiatives to carry out projects.
Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Ali Güneş made the opening speech of the meeting. Güneşthanked everyone who contributed to the organization of the meeting and stated the significance of such a meeting in taking action to carry out projects for the university and the city. Vice-Rector Güneş noted that they were far away from a sufficient number of projects as the institute but were working on it. He wished for an instructive meeting that would ease finding funding.

We prioritize the process of R&D.

Later, Rector of KAEÜ Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil came forward. Karahocagil reminded people that KAEU was in the range of the first 300-400 universities in quality education, and he added, "We believe that we deserve a better spot but we are aware that we need to improve our R&D studies and give importance to innovation. Hence, we constitute a new organization called the R&D Directorate in the light of Akhism to be successful in innovations. Rector Karahocagil stated that universities that are the touchstones of change and transformation were output-focal, indicating the significance of cooperation with the other eco-system components and experience and info-sharing.

Building a Project Requires Deep Thinking

Kırşehir Governor Mete Buhara also expressed his thoughts on the issue at the meeting on Project Opportunities Within the Scope of EU Support. He criticized that they were deficient at applying the funds and conducting projects and it required deep thinking. Buhara stated that Kırşehir gave importance to education and had the potential to train people, but demand was important. 

Kırşehir Should Get More Support and Funding

Lastly, the Director-General for Financial Cooperation and Project Implementation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate for EU Affairs Bülent Özcan gave details on the funds provided to Turkiye in the scope of EU and Financial Cooperation. Özcan, who also gave information regarding the funds for Kırşehir, stated that 9 projects of Kırşehir took support from 2002-2020 and the support cost 800 thousand Euros. Director-General Özcan asserted that the amount and the number of projects were not sufficient, it was important to increase cooperation and efficiency of the projects.


Director-General for Financial Cooperation and Project Implementation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate for EU Affairs Bülent Özcan also stated that building a project and applying for funds were complicated, and required effort. He explained how to build a project, and coordinate correctly with IPA development plans in detail. The meeting ended with the presentation of the gifts and photo-shooting. The training on Project Opportunities Within the Scope of EU Support will continue for two days and details on the project building will be explained.