HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-02-two-stage | Circular Urban Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation

Target Topic: HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-02-two-stage – Using the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative to strengthen urban manufacturing in support of the Clean Industrial Deal

Organisation: Gebze Technical University (GTU), Türkiye

Proposed Role: Research Partner / Consortium Partner

Project Stage: Early stage

Cooperation Objective

Gebze Technical University (GTU) seeks international partners for a Horizon Europe proposal under CIRCBIO-02-two-stage, focusing on circular urban manufacturing, industrial innovation, sustainable business models, and regional collaboration.

Our contribution focuses on the managerial, organisational, and innovation ecosystem dimensions of circular manufacturing, complementing the technological and environmental expertise of other consortium partners.

We aim to explore how universities, manufacturers, SMEs, municipalities, and public authorities can collaborate to develop and scale circular manufacturing solutions supporting the European Clean Industrial Deal.

Expertise and Relevant Experience

Our research team offers expertise in innovation management, technology transfer, entrepreneurship, strategic foresight, sustainable business transformation, and regional innovation ecosystems.

The lead researcher is a Professor of Business Administration at GTU and former Vice President of TÜBİTAK, Türkiye's Scientific and Technological Research Council, with experience in R&D programmes, innovation policy, private-sector collaboration, and technology-based entrepreneurship.

Previous senior management experience at Teknopark Istanbul further strengthens our expertise in industrial innovation, technology commercialisation, and university-industry cooperation.

Located in the highly industrialised Gebze region, GTU offers opportunities to explore collaboration with manufacturers, SMEs, and industrial stakeholders interested in circular production and sustainable transformation.

Potential Contributions to the Project

GTU can contribute to research activities and work packages involving:

• Circular innovation ecosystems: Mapping regional manufacturing ecosystems, industrial stakeholders, and opportunities for circular value creation.

• Sustainable business models: Developing and evaluating circular business models, industrial symbiosis approaches, and sustainable value chains.

• Industrial transformation: Analysing organisational capabilities, innovation strategies, adoption barriers, and change management requirements.

• Technology transfer and SME engagement: Supporting technology adoption, university-industry cooperation, and SME participation in circular manufacturing.

• Strategic foresight: Identifying emerging circular technologies, future industrial trends, and innovation opportunities.

• Living Labs and stakeholder collaboration: Supporting participatory approaches involving manufacturers, municipalities, research organisations, and innovation intermediaries.

• Policy analysis and impact assessment: Evaluating innovation support mechanisms and the economic, organisational, and societal impacts of circular manufacturing initiatives.

• Capacity building: Supporting stakeholder workshops, training, knowledge exchange, and dissemination activities.

Proposed Research Approaches

Our contributions may include industrial ecosystem mapping, comparative case studies, company surveys, stakeholder interviews, participatory workshops, strategic foresight exercises, and business model analysis.

Partnership Interests

We welcome collaboration with universities, research organisations, manufacturers, SMEs, municipalities, regional development agencies, industrial clusters, and circular economy networks.

GTU seeks to join a consortium as a research and implementation partner, contributing particularly to innovation management, sustainable business models, industrial stakeholder engagement, technology transfer, and impact assessment.

We welcome discussions with prospective coordinators and partners preparing proposals specifically for HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-02-two-stage.