USTDA Supports METU with a Smart Campus Technical Assistance Grant
September 25, 2017
(USTDA)
ANKARA, Turkey – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency signed a grant
with the Middle East Technical University (METU), a public, technical university
located in Ankara, to provide technical assistance in support of METU’s Smart
Campus Project. The technical assistance will support METU in exploring the
benefits of applying advanced technological solutions to enhance the areas of
smart energy, smart transportation, smart water management, smart buildings
through the utilization of innovative information and communication technologies
(ICT).
Ultimately, the goal of the Smart Campus Project is to enable METU to determine
how to best achieve integration of campus infrastructure and services through an
integrated, centrally managed and operated system that is responsive to the
university administrators and its students.
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, John R. Bass, signed the grant on behalf of USTDA
during a ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, along with Professor Dr. Mehmet
Zeyrek, Vice President of METU. Ambassador Bass remarked, “We are very
pleased that we can support the ongoing efforts to explore additional ways to
improve energy efficiency and modernize information technology at METU and the
potential that offers as a model for other universities, businesses, other parts
of Turkish society to use energy more efficiently and to adapt the economy and
the society to the opportunities of the digital age.”
“We are very privileged today to get together to sign this agreement for the
grant with USTDA. It’s a great opportunity for us to transform our already
green campus,” said Professor Dr. Mehmet Zeyrek, Vice President of METU.
Carl B. Kress, USTDA’s Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa and
Turkey, who witnessed the signing noted, “USTDA is pleased to have the
opportunity to pursue this exciting project with METU, a project that promises
to enhance the experience of METU’s students and faculty and as well as to
highlight U.S. equipment and technologies that can help the university achieve
its objectives.”
METU will competitively select a U.S. firm to complete the technical assistance.
Businesses interested in submitting proposals for this USTDA-funded technical
assistance should visit the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website at www.fbo.gov. A link to the FBO
announcement will be posted to USTDA’s website at https://www.ustda.gov/business-opportunities.
USTDA has supported several “smart” projects in Turkey in recent years,
including in the areas of smart grid development, intelligent transportation
systems, and emergency and disaster management response.
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