Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure R&D Idea Competition Incentive Award

Two different projects under my academic supervision have been honored with the R&D Incentive Award in the 4th "Reaching and Accessible Türkiye 2053" Inter-University R&D Idea Competition, organized by the Center for Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications Research (UDHAM) under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Türkiye.

In the Highway Category, my undergraduate student Adem Özkul received the R&D Incentive Award with the project entitled "Modular Earthquake-Resistant Smart Green Concrete Road Systems." In the Railway Category, my undergraduate students Hamza Taş and Hüseyin Gazi Yiğit were honored with the same award for their project entitled "Recycling Railway Superstructure Waste: Sustainable High-Strength Railway Sleeper Production from Waste Concrete Sleepers."

The competition aims to encourage young researchers to engage in research and development activities, foster innovative ideas, and support projects that will contribute to the future of the transportation sector. This year, 816 students from 87 universities across Türkiye participated in the competition. A total of 575 projects were evaluated, with 42 projects and 61 students receiving awards.

This achievement reflects my students' dedication to research, strong teamwork, and innovative engineering approach. The national recognition of these undergraduate projects highlights the scientific potential of young researchers while emphasizing the importance of promoting studies that contribute to academia, industry, and public-sector collaboration.

I sincerely congratulate Adem Özkul, Hamza Taş, and Hüseyin Gazi Yiğit on this remarkable achievement. I thank them for their commitment, hard work, and scientific productivity, and wish them continued success in their academic and professional careers. I also hope that this recognition will serve as a strong motivation for future studies contributing to sustainable transportation infrastructure and innovative engineering solutions.