The University–Industry cooperation, which initially began under the TÜBİTAK BİDEB-2244 Doctorate Program with Kastamonu Entegre Ağaç Sanayii Ticaret A.Ş. and Arçelik A.Ş., has grown steadily over the years. In 2019, Assoc. Prof. Nesrin Köken launched collaboration with Kastamonu Entegre through the acceptance of their project titled “Development of Resin Systems with Low Formaldehyde Emission or Not Containing Formaldehyde.” That same year, another project was initiated with Arçelik A.Ş., titled “Preparation of High Temperature Resistant Thermoset and Thermoplastic Resins and Their Application as Coating Material.” Both projects were supported by the TÜBİTAK BİDEB-2244 program and have now been ongoing for seven years.

Building upon this strong foundation, their partnership expanded further through the TÜBİTAK 1004 Center of Excellence-supported project “Environmentally Compatible Sustainable Advanced Vehicle Technologies,” which was accepted in 2022. Within the scope of this project, collaboration continued with TEMSA-SKODA Sabancı Ulaşım Araç A.Ş., particularly in the development and production of floor panels for electric buses, coordinated by İTÜ’s APYK-4 unit.

As a result of the impactful outcomes and sustained success of these collaborations, the Istanbul Technical University 2024 University–Industry Cooperation Award was granted to Assoc. Prof. Nesrin Köken. The decision was made following a comprehensive and meticulous evaluation by the award jury, recognizing the academic value, originality, and unique contributions of her work to the field. It is a source of great pride to have received this prestigious recognition.