Rector Karataş Stresses Value of Scientific Support for Industry
Rector Karataş: “University–industry cooperation is one of the most important ways of turning scientific knowledge into production and public benefit”
Çankırı Karatekin University (ÇAKÜ) Rector Prof. Dr. Mevlüt Karataş visited Sumitomo Rubber AKO Lastik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. and Turbo Akü to explore strategies for expanding university-industry collaboration. The talks covered joint R&D projects, the application of academic knowledge to production processes, and expanding opportunities for students to gain practical experience.
Company Representatives Brief Delegation on Production Activities
Rector Karataş was accompanied on the visits by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. M. Nuri Öner, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Prof. Dr. Abdullah Akbulut, Dean of the Faculty of Science Prof. Dr. Faruk Karaaslan, Director of the ÇAKÜ Central Research Laboratory Application and Research Centre Prof. Dr. Olcay Gençyılmaz, Director of the ÇAKÜ Vocational School Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Cem Karakoç, and General Manager of ÇAKÜ Technopark and the Technology Transfer Office Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçe.
During the site visits, corporate executives briefed Rector Karataş and the delegation on production operations, technical infrastructures, and market activities. The executive meetings examined concrete frameworks to integrate the companies' manufacturing experience with ÇAKÜ’s scientific research capabilities and laboratory infrastructure.
Company representatives stressed the importance of science-based cooperation between universities and industry, and said they were pleased with their existing work with ÇAKÜ and with plans to build on it. Both parties emphasized the mutual benefits of aligning academic research priorities with real-world market demands to yield practical technological solutions.
Joint R&D and Practical Training Opportunities
The talks explored ways of bringing the university’s academic expertise, research capacity and technical infrastructure together with the needs of industry. Topics included launching joint research and development (R&D) projects, making sure scientific work contributes to production processes, increasing internship and practical training places for students and training the skilled workforce the sector needs.
Participants also noted that university-industry cooperation supports scientific and technological progress as well as higher productivity, innovative solutions and regional economic development.
Rector Karataş: “When scientific knowledge meets production, it becomes public benefit”
Reflecting on the engagements, Rector Karataş stressed the importance of applying universities’ scientific expertise and research capabilities to the needs of society and the productive sectors of the economy. He noted that university–industry collaboration serves as an essential channel for converting academic findings into tangible economic and societal benefits, while simultaneously strengthening ÇAKÜ’s long-term research, development, and innovation output.
Rector Karataş added that ÇAKÜ prioritizes analyzing industry's needs, aligning faculty specializations with sectoral demands, and enriching student curricula with hands-on technical training. Visits like these, he said, create valuable opportunities to develop joint projects and build lasting partnerships.
He said ÇAKÜ aims to combine its research capacity with industry’s experience and production strength. Stronger university–industry cooperation, he concluded, would help students develop professional skills, support innovative production processes and contribute to Çankırı’s regional development.
