KARADENIZ TEKNIK UNIVERSITESI

Their core work

Karadeniz Technical University in Trabzon is a Turkish public university contributing environmental and natural resource expertise to European research consortia. Their work spans forest ecosystem modeling, water contaminant removal using advanced filtration and photocatalytic materials, and Black Sea marine research. They bring regional knowledge of Turkey's Black Sea coast — a biodiversity-rich and ecologically sensitive area — to multi-country projects addressing climate change, pollution, and sustainable resource management.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early H2020 work (2016-2017) centered on forestry and land-use modeling, contributing Turkish landscape data to pan-European scenario exercises. From 2017 onward, they shifted decisively toward water and marine science — first through advanced water treatment research (AQUAlity), then into Black Sea ecosystem management (DOORS). The trajectory shows a clear move from terrestrial to aquatic environmental science, with growing emphasis on their geographic asset: proximity to and deep knowledge of the Black Sea.

They are consolidating around water and marine environmental research, particularly Black Sea-focused, making them a natural partner for future Blue Growth and environmental remediation projects in the region.

How they like to work

Karadeniz Technical University participates exclusively as a consortium partner — they have not coordinated any H2020 projects. They work in large consortia (73 unique partners across just 3 projects), which suggests they join broad, multi-actor research actions rather than leading small targeted teams. This profile is typical of a regional university contributing specialized local knowledge and research capacity to large European initiatives.

Despite only three projects, they have built connections with 73 partners across 23 countries — a remarkably broad network for their project count, reflecting the large-consortium nature of their RIA and MSCA participation. Their reach spans most of Europe with no single dominant partner country.

What sets them apart

Their key differentiator is geographic: as a major Turkish university on the Black Sea coast, they offer direct access to Black Sea environmental data, field sites, and regional research networks that Western European partners cannot easily replicate. For any consortium targeting the Black Sea basin — whether for marine science, water quality, or climate adaptation — they are a credible and experienced Turkish partner with a track record in EU-funded research.

Highlights from their portfolio

• AQUAlity
  Their largest H2020 grant (EUR 235,557), an MSCA training network combining materials science with environmental chemistry for water purification — signals strong research training capacity.
• DOORS
  A flagship Black Sea research support project (2021-2025) positioning the university at the center of the EU's Blue Growth strategy for the region.