From September 2nd to 4th, the MAPIT consortium gathered in İzmir, Turkey, to officially launch the Mobilizing Advanced Partnerships for Digital Innovation and Transformation (MAPIT) project. Funded by the HORIZON WIDERA 2023 calls, managed by the European Research Agency (REA), MAPIT aims to bridge the gap between innovative SMEs, research entities, and European R&I networks, fostering sustainable international partnerships. The project will run until August 2026.
Warm Welcomes and Keynote Presentations
The kick-off event commenced with a warm welcome from Mr. Tolga Ayav, Project Coordinator from İzmir Institute of Technology (IZTECH), who introduced the meeting agenda and gave an overview of IZTECH’s role as the project coordinator. Mr. Yusuf Baran, Rector of IZTECH, followed with an address, emphasizing the strategic importance of MAPIT for the university and sharing impressive growth statistics.
The event continued with introductions of the project partners, which include nine institutions from Turkey, Netherlands, Hungary, and Estonia. Each partner outlined their roles and contributions to the project’s success. Partners include Hogeschool Utrecht (SHU), WEglobal Consultancy (WEGLOBAL), Hetfa Research Institute (HEFTA), KTO Karatay University (KARATAY), Middle East Technical University (METU), Atap Anadolu Technology Research Park (ATAP), Tallinn University of Technology (TALTECH), and the Institute for Future Research (IFR).
Mr. Çağrı Yıldırım, the National Coordinator of the Horizon Europe Programme at TÜBİTAK, joined virtually, providing insights into TÜBİTAK’s support for MAPIT and the importance of initiatives like this for international R&I collaboration.
Work Package Sessions and Collaborative Discussions
The meeting featured multiple plenary sessions focused on different work packages (WPs). The first session introduced the overall project management structure, followed by detailed discussions on data, AI development, and the role of international partnerships. The AI group, led by SHU, brainstormed approaches for developing the AI tool, focusing on large language models (LLMs) and knowledge networks. They explored how to optimize the tool’s performance and incorporate user feedback for continuous improvement.
The KPI group, consisting of WEGlobal, HETFA, KTO Karatay University, ATAP, TALTECH, and IFR, developed strategies for stakeholder engagement, including plans for Horizon Europe proposals and the establishment of a peer learning system.
Progress in AI and Future Studies
Day two featured a presentation on the AI Domain Expert tool, led by SHU’s Mr. Marco Dumont, who provided an update on the AI tool’s development and its integration with large datasets, including CORDIS. The group also discussed strategies for enhancing the accuracy and performance of the tool through real-world use cases.
Other sessions focused on future studies for human resources development, led by HETFA’s Ms. Renata Anna Jaksa, and WP5’s dissemination efforts, led by TALTECH’s Mr. Kalle Toiskallio, who emphasized the importance of international collaboration and visibility in fostering digital innovation.
Looking Ahead: Next Steps for MAPIT
The third day of the meeting included presentations on the research and innovation capacities of various Turkish institutions, followed by a final session summarizing the meeting’s outcomes and planning next steps. This included the preparation of surveys, training sessions, study visits, and future conferences to ensure continued collaboration and progress.
Plans for a future conference hosted by the FinEst Centre and potential annual face-to-face meetings were discussed to further strengthen the consortium’s engagement.
MAPIT is set to be an impactful project in advancing digital innovation, fostering sustainable partnerships, and enhancing the role of SMEs and research institutions across Europe.
Stay tuned for regular updates!
