Expert Advice to Government

Özyeğin University provides expert advice services to local and national governments. For instance, Assistant Professor İsmail Arı from the Faculty of Engineering serves as a member of the Advisory Board for Technology and Innovation Funding Programs, contributing to Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 9. In addition, his appointment to the ASELSAN Board of Directors strengthens collaboration between academia, industry, and government, supporting SDG 16 by promoting effective, accountable, and inclusive decision-making in national innovation and security policy. Additionally, faculty members and research managers from TTO have participated in 12 different Expertise Commissions for the preparation of Turkey's 12th Development Plan, which will serve as the main blueprint for progress between 2024 and 2028.

Turkey's Energy Efficiency Outlook in Industry

Istanbul and İzmir Buildings Could Achieve 65-70% Energy Savings with Climate-Resilient Retrofits
Gökçe Tomrukçu from the CEEE/ECEM team published an article titled "Climate Resilient Building Energy Efficiency Retrofit: Assessing the Effects of Resilient Strategies in Residential Buildings through Climate Change Scenarios" in the Energy and Buildings journal. The study evaluates energy-efficient solutions and future climate conditions based on residential buildings in Istanbul and İzmir, combining various emission scenarios to assess strategies for enhancing climate change adaptation effects.

Key Findings:
The study demonstrates that energy efficiency renovation strategies can achieve significant savings of 60-65% in İzmir and 65-70% in Istanbul, depending on the emission scenarios adopted. While the adoption of the most efficient renovation scenario substantially increases thermal comfort values in both regions, it also presents important considerations for climate adaptation. Notably, in naturally ventilated areas in Istanbul, implementing these strategies during the summer months results in the highest temperature increases, with peak temperatures rising by 5-6°C. In contrast, İzmir experiences a reduction of 4-5°C under similar conditions. These findings highlight the critical need to balance energy efficiency improvements with thermal comfort considerations, particularly as both cities adapt to changing climate conditions. The detailed findings are available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2024.114315

Türkiye & Europe: Smart and Green Cities Alliances

TÜSİAD, in partnership with TÜRKONFED, Institut du Bosphore, Berlin Bosphorus Initiative, Özyeğin University (ÖzÜ), and ÖzÜ-TÜSİAD Sustainable Development Forum, has initiated a project called 'Türkiye and Europe: Integrated Services - Tools - Technology Roadmap Project for Smart Cities.' This project aims to strengthen coordination among municipalities, providing a platform for experience and knowledge sharing.

A roadmap proposal has been prepared to facilitate the design of short, medium, and long-term smart city strategies in selected cities. The pilot cities for the project include Istanbul, Izmir, Gaziantep, Konya, Bursa, Ankara, London, Paris, and Berlin. The project facilitated participation in virtual workshops on 'Data Management,' 'Access to Financing,' and 'Disaster/Risk Management.' A workshop on 'Collective and Integrated Data Management' was also held in Istanbul in cooperation with the Consulate General of Germany, where pilot cities discussed common challenges and proposed solutions.

Expert Advisory to Government on Industrial Digital Transformation

OzUBEX Industrial Transformation Center provides strategic expert advice and evidence-based guidance to national and regional government authorities in the field of digital transformation and Industry 4.0 implementation. Operating under the "Competitive Sectors Program" financed through the cooperation framework of the European Union and the Republic of Turkey and implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, OzUBEX serves as a key knowledge partner in shaping industrial policy and KOBİ (SME) development strategies. Through its partnership with leading institutions including the White Goods Suppliers Association (BEYSAD), Özyeğin University, and the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD), the center actively participates in policy development committees, provides technical expertise for regulatory frameworks, and delivers comprehensive evidence through research and pilot implementations. With a total budget of approximately 10 million Euros and ongoing operations since 2017, OzUBEX contributes to government decision-making processes by presenting data-driven insights on manufacturing sector digitalization, workforce development needs, and innovation capacity building. The center's expert team regularly advises government bodies on sustainable industrial transformation pathways, offering specific recommendations on technology adoption strategies, skills development requirements, and regulatory adjustments needed to enhance the competitiveness of Turkish SMEs in global markets.