BK21 BigOCEAN Research Group from Jeju National University Visits SRE² Group and SBTÜ
On September 3, 2026, Sivas University of Science and Technology (SBTÜ) and the Sustainability and Renewable Energy Research Group (SRE² Group) hosted an international delegation from the BK21 BigOCEAN Research Group of Jeju National University, Republic of Korea.
The high-level academic visit aimed to explore mutual scientific projects, strengthen international institutional cooperation, and establish joint bilateral research programs between Turkey and South Korea.
BK21 BigOCEAN Research Group Delegation from Jeju National University at SBTÜ
Research Leadership and Coordination
The visit was organized and coordinated by Dr. Qazi Muhammad Saqib, Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Director of SRE² Group, who also serves as a guest researcher at the Ocean Integrated Smart Engineering (OISE) Lab at Jeju National University.
The delegation was supported under the Brain Korea 21 (BK21 Four) national flagship program by the South Korean Ministry of Education, dedicated to cultivating top-tier graduate researchers, fostering breakthrough innovation, and advancing global academic alliances.
Commemorative Delegation Gathering at Sivas University of Science and Technology
Digital Twins, Metaverse Platforms and Smart Sensors
During the bilateral sessions held at the SBTÜ Senate Hall, researchers and faculty members evaluated strategic collaboration areas:
- BigOCEAN Metarence Platform Demonstration: The visiting Korean delegation showcased their advanced BigOCEAN Metarence digital twin platform, demonstrating how physical sensor data streams integrate seamlessly into immersive virtual environments and interactive digital twins.
- Flexible and Wearable Electronics Seminar: A dedicated technical seminar was conducted on "Flexible, Wearable and Printable Electronics: Designing Architectures for Autonomous Smart Sensors in Harsh Environments", highlighting SRE² Group's core competencies in self-powered nanogenerators (TENG/PENG), tactile e-skin, and energy-harvesting electronic architectures.
- Metaverse and Edge AI Integration: Cross-disciplinary synergy between SRE² Group's sensory hardware and BigOCEAN's metaverse data infrastructure for real-time telemetry, robotics, and environmental sensing.
Seminar on Flexible and Wearable Electronics for Autonomous Smart Sensing
Bilateral Research Programs and Institutional MoU
The discussions also established practical frameworks for long-term collaboration:
- Bilateral Research Proposals: Formulating joint project submissions under the TÜBİTAK – National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) bilateral cooperation program.
- Academic and Researcher Exchange: Creating bilateral exchange pathways for graduate students, postdocs, and faculty between SBTÜ and Jeju National University.
- Joint High-Impact Publications: Collaborative authorship in international journals focusing on self-powered sensors, digital twins, and sustainable electronic systems.
- Institutional Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): Advancing a formal MoU between SBTÜ and Jeju National University to provide institutional backing for ongoing and future collaborative projects.
This visit reflects SRE² Group's and SBTÜ's commitment to internationalization, cutting-edge technological development, and impactful global research partnerships.