Faed Mustafa Zohdia, Ambassador of Palestine to Turkey, Adnan Samara, President of the Higher Council for Innovation and Excellence (HCIE) and Advisor to the President, and Ayman Sbaih, HCIE Board Member, accompanied by officials from the Presidency of TÜBİTAK, visited our Center on January 14-15, 2016 to examine the infrastructure of TÜBİTAK MAM, discuss potential cooperation opportunities and sign a Memorandum of Understanding.

The Palestinian delegation was received by TÜBİTAK MAM Vice President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Makaracı on January 14. The importance given to the relations between the two countries was expressed and the need for joint R&D work opportunities and capabilities was emphasized. In line with the needs of the Palestinian state, turnkey projects with water, energy and food titles, industrial testing and analysis services and the development of incubation companies were discussed. On January 15th, the delegation was informed about the R&D activities carried out at our Center. In line with the interests of the delegation, detailed presentations were made by officials from the TÜBİTAK MAM Institute of Environment and Cleaner Production (ÇTÜE), Institute of Energy (EE), Institute of Food (GE), Institute of Gene Engineering and Biotechnology (GMBE), and Institute of Earth and Marine Sciences (YDBE), providing information on the working areas of the Institutes. ÇTÜE, EE and GE laboratories were visited and the studies carried out were examined on site.

At the end of the visits, Prof. Dr. A. Arif Ergin, President of TÜBİTAK, and Adnan Samara, President of the Science Foundation on behalf of the Palestinian Delegation, signed the TÜBİTAK-HCIE Memorandum of Understanding. TÜBİTAK Vice President Dr. Orkun Hasekioğlu, MAM President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bahadır Tunaboylu, International Relations Department Bilateral and Multilateral Relations Manager Dr. Zeynep Büyükboduk were present at the signing ceremony. Sharing will continue with the Palestinian Science Authority to develop joint R&D activities.