Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ekrem Saralioğlu, Director of the Project Coordination Application and Research Center (PKUAM), Vice Dean of our Faculty, and faculty member in the Department of Geomatics Engineering, participated in the International Blue Economy Summit – Summer School held in Trabzon within the scope of the Blue Gates Project, supported under the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Cross-Border Cooperation Programme.

The Blue Gates Project, led by the Eastern Black Sea Development Agency (DOKA) and bearing the reference number BSB0189, aims to enhance cross-border cooperation in the field of blue economy in the Black Sea Basin with the participation of project partners from Türkiye, Romania, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. Through the activities carried out within the project, it is intended to promote sustainable blue economy practices, increase knowledge and experience sharing, and strengthen regional cooperation.

At the event held in Trabzon on 29 June 2026, recent developments in the field of blue economy, international studies conducted in line with sustainable development goals, and potential joint project opportunities in the Black Sea Basin were discussed. The programme brought together public institutions, universities, development agencies, and international project partners to share knowledge and experience.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ekrem Saralioğlu followed the sessions focusing on the development of international cooperation networks, the sharing of project experiences under European Union funding mechanisms, and the establishment of new partnerships. The programme is considered to contribute to the enhancement of our University’s international project capacity and the development of new collaborations in EU-funded projects.

Our University continues to support collaborations that contribute to research, innovation, and regional development by actively participating in national and international project networks.