Tat Gıda and Bursa Uludağ University Collaboration

Tat Gıda and Bursa Uludağ University Collaboration Tat Gıda signed a protocol with Bursa Uludağ University (BUÜ) within the scope of university-industry cooperation. Through this collaboration, the aim is to provide academic support for R&D work, conduct joint scientific research and share research outcomes, carry out university and sector-based studies and exchange mutual experience. With the protocol, contribution will be made to developing academic work opportunities for students and researchers, while directing science and technology-based agriculture and food production processes and bringing qualified workforce to the sector. Tat Gıda and Bursa Uludağ University (BUÜ) signed a cooperation protocol at a meeting held on 29 June 2022 Wednesday, where representatives of both parties gathered to develop university-industry partnership. The ceremony also saw the signing of a project protocol under the 2244 TÜBİTAK Industrial Doctorate Program, attended by BUÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Saim Kılavuz and Tat Gıda General Manager Evren Albaş, along with Technology Transfer Office and company managers and academics. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Tat Gıda General Manager Evren Albaş said: "This protocol we have implemented within the scope of university-industry cooperation is based on two main objectives: training qualified workforce in the food and agriculture sectors and implementing high-technology focused innovative projects. Through this, we aim to carry out joint Research and Development projects, to jointly use laboratory and application facilities that we mutually possess, and to find scientific solutions to problems encountered in the sector. As a company born with a passion to serve Turkey, we have known from day one that investing in the future of agriculture and food is of critical importance. We are carrying out many projects and making significant investments that support digitalization in agriculture and innovation in the food sector. At the core of Tat Gıda's work approach for more than 50 years, trust-based cooperation between industrialists, producers and academia has held an important place. Through such collaborations, we wish to support efforts to increase qualified workforce in agriculture and food. We aim to gain significant benefits from the work conducted by doctoral and master's students employed at Tat Gıda in different stages of food production, and return these as more efficient and sustainable processes to our consumers," he said. Pointing out that food safety has begun to take a place in the strategic agenda of the entire world, Albaş continued: "Players in agriculture and food production need to cooperate and increase their competencies. In this direction, using the research and qualified human resources training potential of our university is our highest priority. We chose Bursa Uludağ University because of its proximity to our Mustafakemalpaşa and Karacabey facilities and the university's specialization in the field of 'food supply security'. Together, we plan to carry out projects on reducing food safety risks, developing high value-added foods, traceability applications and developing digital technologies. We also want to provide internship opportunities to our successful colleagues at BUÜ, contributing to their development and careers," he said. Albaş stated, "We believe that the projects we will produce together and the successful results we will obtain from these projects will provide valuable contributions to both Tat Gıda and Bursa Uludağ University," and thanked BUÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Saim Kılavuz and the project team for their support and cooperation. Within the framework of Tat Gıda's qualified workforce development and sustainability vision for the food and agriculture sector, joint projects are planned to be conducted with Bursa Uludağ University (BUÜ) in scientific research, education and application areas. Under this protocol, Tat Gıda plans to provide academic support to BUÜ's scientific research and R&D work, conduct joint scientific research with Bursa Uludağ University Science and Technology Application and Research Center (BİTUAM), Food Engineering and Agriculture Faculty, and share articles resulting from these studies at national and international levels with the sector and academic world. The protocol implemented will contribute to increasing research opportunities for students and researchers, while opening the way for innovative work in many areas of the food production process starting from the field in light of scientific and technological developments. With Tat Gıda's strong academic support, work is aimed to be accelerated in many different areas such as innovative food technologies, science-based food design, functional products, plant-based foods, sustainable agriculture and advanced agricultural technologies, alternative packaging materials and technologies. In this scope, initially research is planned to be conducted on new product designs for ready-to-consume healthy foods. Under the TÜBİTAK 2244 Industrial Doctorate Program, the aim is to develop qualified human resources with doctorates needed by industry through university-industry cooperation, encourage employment of doctoral researchers in industry, and develop cooperation between university/research infrastructure and industry. Within the scope of the project, scholarship recipients selected together with BUÜ Food Engineering Department in priority areas required by TAT Gıda will be supported throughout their 4-year doctoral education. While the project serves to provide innovative and visionary human resources, Tat Gıda will also employ doctoral and master's students engaged in these projects within its organization. Speaking at the protocol signing ceremony, BUÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Saim Kılavuz said: "We are proud that Bursa Uludağ University has been selected as one of the 23 Research Universities designated by the Higher Education Council (YÖK). Of course, this situation also places serious responsibility on our shoulders. Given this situation, we need to cooperate with various institutions in R&D and other scientific areas. It is important that we give special attention to this area and continue with intensive work pace. Within the scope of the "Matching Research Universities with Priority Sectors According to Their Competencies Listed in the 11th Development Plan" project implemented by the Higher Education Council the previous year, our university was matched with 8 priority sectors. One of the priority sectors BUÜ was matched with was Food Supply Security. In continuing works, in analysis reports where competency and project-focused activities are calculated, BUÜ was announced as Turkey's number 1 in the 'Animal Nutrition' area under the heading of Food Supply Security. Additionally, we were found to be competent in Food Biotechnology. This shows how strong and quality work our Agriculture Faculty conducts," he said. Also noting that the TÜBİTAK 2244 Industrial Doctorate Program is one of the projects that will elevate Turkey and that the number of qualified personnel conducting doctoral studies needs to be increased, Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Saim Kılavuz said: "I believe that through this program, this deficiency in our country will be remedied. As a university, we are among the most important supporters of the 2244 project. The previous year we ranked number 1 in Turkey in the number of doctoral students. To continue this success, we are working with the same determination and continuing to sign protocols with our industrialists. Through this protocol covering various areas, we hope to revitalize university-industry cooperation and implement projects that will add value to the country's economy. We extend our gratitude to our company Tat Gıda for their support to our university within the scope of the 2244 Industrial Doctorate Project. Hopefully, our academic work, together with the contributions of our industrialists, will achieve important outputs. We wish the protocol to be auspicious for our university, the Tat Gıda family and our country," he said.