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Istanbul Medeniyet University (IMU) hosted an important series of events as part of the BRIDGE-IT (Building Research Infrastructure for Dynamic Global Engagement: Innovating Turkish-UK Partnerships) project, which aims to strengthen research and innovation collaborations with the United Kingdom (UK). The workshops, held from June 3–5, 2026, were conducted with the participation of experts from our project partner, London South Bank University (LSBU), in the United Kingdom.

On behalf of Istanbul Medeniyet University, Associate Professor Dr. Nagehan Ersoy Tunalı, Coordinator of International Institutional Relations and project coordinator, shared the objectives of the BRIDGE-IT project—supported by the British Academy—and the benefits it will bring to our university with the participants during the opening session. Over the course of the three-day program, current and strategic topics were addressed, including research management, innovation, intellectual property, AI-supported project development, Horizon Europe funding, preparing narrative CVs (Narrative CV/R4RI) for researchers, and project proposal writing for early-career researchers.

On the first day of the program, sessions led by Gaston Primo from LSBU’s Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation team examined corporate innovation processes, university-industry collaborations, knowledge transfer mechanisms, the commercialization of research outputs, and intellectual property management. Participants had the opportunity to examine case studies from UK universities and share their own experiences.

During the workshops held on the second day, LSBU experts Nadia Imtiaz and Paul Scott Davidson provided hands-on training on the effective use of AI tools in research grant applications and access to Horizon Europe calls. Participants gained experience with AI-supported project development processes and learned how to identify suitable funding opportunities through the European Commission’s Funding & Tenders Portal.

On the final day of the program, project proposal writing training sessions were held for early-career researchers, focusing on the Narrative CV (R4RI) approach, which is increasingly in demand by international funding agencies. The hands-on sessions addressed how researchers can present their scientific achievements, leadership activities, societal impact, and contributions to research culture in line with funders’ expectations. Additionally, the challenges young researchers face in accessing research funding and strategies to overcome them were discussed.

Organized as part of the BRIDGE-IT project, these events not only enhanced the capacity of Istanbul Medeniyet University researchers to access international funding programs but also made a significant contribution to the development of sustainable research and innovation collaborations with the United Kingdom. Throughout the program, researchers from various academic units had the opportunity to gain up-to-date knowledge and experience in the areas of project development and research management.

In addition to the academic sessions, a study visit was conducted to Istanbul Medeniyet University Technology Park as part of the BRIDGE-IT program. During the visit, Ali Ramazan Tak, General Secretary of Istanbul Medeniyet University and General Manager of the Technology Park, along with the technology park management and relevant team members, provided participants with comprehensive information about the technology park’s structure, areas of activity, and entrepreneurship ecosystem. The work areas of companies operating within the technology park, their R&D and innovation activities, and university-industry collaboration models were introduced. During the meetings, potential collaborations between Istanbul Medeniyet University and London South Bank University in the fields of research, innovation, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship were evaluated, and ideas were exchanged regarding future joint projects.

This visit was regarded as an important step toward extending the existing collaboration between the two institutions beyond research and educational activities to develop sustainable partnerships in the fields of innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer. Istanbul Medeniyet University will continue to strengthen its research infrastructure and global partnerships in line with its internationalization goals through new activities to be carried out within the scope of the BRIDGE-IT project.