On March 19-22, 2018 a delegation from the Institute of Aviation: Mr. Paweł Stężycki – Director of the Institute of Aviation, Mr. Jerzy Żółtak – Director of the Center of New Technologies, Mr. Borys Łukasik – Research Associate from the Center of Transportation and Energy Conversion and Ms. Agata Wierzbińska – Coordinator for EU Relations went to Turkey, where they held a series of meetings at the technical universities and technoparks in the cities of Istanbul and Izmir.
During the onsite visit, the Institute’s representatives met with the academic staff from the Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics of Istanbul Technical University (ITU) and visited the Faculty’s laboratories and facilities – Space Systems Design and Test Laboratory, Control Based Design and Test Laboratory, Composites Structures Laboratory and Aerospace Research Center. During the meeting, possible forms of cooperation were discussed, such as i.e. joint research projects, exchange of staff, internships for Ph.D. students or Post-docs.
Following the meetings at the Faculty, the visit continued at the ITU Teknokent – the so-called tech town of the Istanbul Technical University. During the meeting, one of the SME companies, which was founded by the ITU graduates and established with substantive and financial support of ITU Teknokent, presented its profile and executed projects to the visitors. The company specializes in aeronautics and defense projects and has already carried out works for such key players as Turkish Aerospace Industries or Mercedes-Benz. Additionally, during the meeting, the employees of the ITU Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office outlined the specimen of the technopark’s operation, the type and scope of assistance provided to young entrepreneurs who would like to implement ground-breaking engineering projects.
The next day, the Institute’s delegation flew to Izmir, where they visited the Teknopark Izmir and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Izmir Institute of Technology. The management of the Izmir Technopark presented the general picture of the institution, dominating profile of companies who operate within it, as well as the scope and method of support provided to them by Izmir Technopark employees.
At the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the delegates met with the Dean of the Faculty. Opportunities for cooperation with the Institute of Aviation within the framework of the Polish-Turkish Programme, that is organized jointly by the National Centre for Research and Development and TUBITAK – the Turkish national research and development center, were discussed.
