NeurotechEU, the European University project led by BME is funded by the EU

News articles related to this item: Boğaziçi University News Portal (in Turkish), Press Release (in Turkish)

European Universities Initiative facilitates the exchange of education, research, and employment. This means that students can take lessons at all the institutions involved, not constrained by institutional capabilities and borders. They can thus gain international experience and benefit from the specific expertise of the various universities. For scientists, it will lead to the improvement of education they provide and to smoother cooperation in research. In this way, the initiative trains new researchers and engineers at the highest possible level, with a background and network in several institutes. The European Universities Initiative will be fully rolled out and scaled up under the next Erasmus program 2021-2027. For more information, see European Universities Initiative web page and NeurotechEU web page.

The European Commission recognized and funded NeurotechEU to join ‘European Universities Initiative’. The consortium will receive 5 million euros for the next three years. Partner universities are Oxford University, University of Bonn, Karolinska Institutet, Miguel Hernández University, Boğaziçi University, UMF Cluj-Napoca and the University of Debrecen. In addition to the eight universities involved, more than 250 European research institutes, (non-) governmental organizations and companies stepped in. The new European university will focus on neurosciences and technology development as its first goal. This improves Europe's position in brain research and engineering and provides well-educated people to tackle future problems in society.

Brain disorders are a leading cause of disability and a significant burden on society. In Europe alone, brain-related diseases - such as dementia, loss of sight and depression - account for almost a quarter of all health problems. With the senior population growing ten times faster than the rest of the world’s population, this is expected to increase further in the coming years. Therefore, the alliance will focus on neurosciences and technology development as its first goal and will expand its focus across disciplines to maximize European potential in education, research, innovation, and creativity. The NeurotechEU is designed as a transdisciplinary partnership for broad neuroscientific advancement and the development of relevant technologies. This prestigious group of universities will spend 5 million euros to build a trans-European network of excellence in brain research and technologies.