Marmara Sea and Sustainable Living Research Projects Support Program
Objective and Scope
The Marmara Sea and Sustainable Living Research Projects Support Program aims to produce scientifically grounded, practical, and measurable outputs addressing challenges in the Marmara Sea and its basin, including climate change, pollution, water security, ecosystem degradation, and resource efficiency.
The program seeks to bridge academic knowledge with local governments, public institutions, and implementing stakeholders, facilitating pilot applications, decision-support tools, and policy inputs.
Supporting Institutions
This support program is conducted in collaboration with the following institutions:
- Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of the Republic of Türkiye
- Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality
- Kocaeli University
Administrative and financial processes of the program are managed through the Kocaeli University BAP Coordination Unit.
Application Timeline
Application Period: 9 March – 9 May 2026
Evaluation Period: April – May 2026
Project Start Dates: 8–10 June 2026
Funding Amount and Duration
- Maximum Project Budget: 2,500,000 TL
- Project Duration: 12–24 months
Budget items under the BAP standard must be presented separately and with justification, including:
- Fellow Expenses (Undergraduate, Master’s, PhD)
- Consumable Material Expenses
- Service Procurement (analysis, software, etc.)
- Travel and Fieldwork Expenses
- Pilot Facility and Demonstration Setup Expenses
Each budget item must be clearly linked to the project objectives.
| No | Partnership Structure | Expected Outputs (Min.) | Max. Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KOU | 1 Adet Q1-Q2 Publication | 400.000 TL |
| 2 | KOU + Private Sector | 1 Adet Q1-Q2 Publication + Patent | 600.000 TL |
| 3 | KOU + Other Universities | 2 Adet Q1-Q2 Publication | 600.000 TL |
| 4 | KOU + Other Universities + Private Sector | 2 Adet Q1-Q2 Publication + Prototype / Pilot Facility / Field Application Uyg. | 1.000.000 TL |
| 5 | KOU + Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Partnership | 2 Adet Q1-Q2 Publication + Prototype / Pilot Facility / Field Application Uyg. | 1.000.000 TL |
| 6 | KOU + Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Partnership + Private Sector | Option A: 2 Publication + 1 Patent Option B: 1 Publication + Prototype /Pilot Facility | 1.500.000 TL |
| 7 | KOU + A1/A2 Research University + Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Partnership | Option A: 3 Publication + 1 Patent Option B: 2 Publication + Prototype /Pilot Facility | 2.000.000 TL |
| 8 | KOU + Foreign University Partnership | Option A: 3 Publication + 1 Patent Option B: 2 Publication + Prototype /Pilot Facility | 2.000.000 TL |
| 9 | KOU + A1/A2 Research University + Foreign University | Option A: 3 Publication + 1 Patent Option B: 2 Publication + Prototype /Pilot Facility | 2.500.000 TL |
In addition to these mandatory outputs, the following outputs are encouraged:
- Policy brief / decision-support report
- Technical implementation guide
- Patent or utility model application
Application Requirements
- The project coordinator must be a full-time faculty member at Kocaeli University.
- Projects must be open to interdisciplinary approaches.
- Collaboration with local governments, public institutions, or industry constitutes an advantageous evaluation criterion.
- The same project coordinator may submit only one project within the same call period.
The guideline may be consulted for more detailed information.
You can review the guide for more details.
Evaluation Criteria
Projects are evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Thematic relevance
- Scientific originality
- Feasibility and pilot-scale applicability
- Local and regional impact
- Budget appropriateness
- Dissemination impact and sustainability
Monitoring Process
- Projects are monitored at six-month intervals.
- Submission of interim and final reports is mandatory.
- Projects deemed necessary may be subject to site visits.