İzmir Institute of Technology (IZTECH) hosted “Green Transformation: Engineering, science and architecture meet for sustainability” on 14–15 October 2026 at the IZTECH Exhibition Centre. The event brought together faculty members from engineering, science and architecture around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Over two days and eight sessions, 24 faculty members gave 10-minute pitches on their research, which gave attendees the chance to learn about ongoing projects and join research teams.

In the “Sustainable Design” session on the first day, IZTECH project leader Assist. Prof. Dr. Hasan Burak Çavka from Department of Architecure presented the latest progress of RESt4GREEN, a project funded by the European Union. He gave an overview of the project’s objectives, its pilot sites and how it contributes to the SDGs..

A shared green transformation initiative for the Mediterranean

RESt4GREEN stands for “Energy efficiency, Renewable Energy Sources and smarT energy conservation for improved quality of life and a GREENer Mediterranean”. It is an international project with a budget of €2.8 million, funded under the Interreg NEXT MED programme. The project brings together universities, public authorities and civil society organisations from seven Mediterranean countries: Greece, Türkiye, Spain, Italy, Egypt, Tunisia and Jordan. IZTECH is one of the project’s main partners and represents Türkiye.

The project has three core objectives:

• Energy efficiency and renewable energy: Improving energy efficiency in public buildings such as schools and university campuses, cutting carbon emissions and installing smart energy management systems.
• Smart urban furniture: Installing innovative green technologies that generate clean energy in open public spaces such as parks and squares, including solar trees and smart benches.
• Awareness and collaboration: Building environmental awareness through energy-themed games and digital platforms, and developing a joint green roadmap that brings together academia, public authorities and citizens.

In Türkiye, the pilot is being carried out at the IZTECH Energy Systems Engineering Department Laboratory Building and its surrounding RESt area.

Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): It modernises the energy infrastructure of public buildings and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Through a “Joint Roadmap for Energy Efficiency”, it aims to change how public institutions consume energy. It also uses a digital engagement hub and energy-themed games to build sustainable habits among children, citizens and professionals.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): It follows the Quadruple Helix model, bringing together academia, public authorities, business and civil society to form a cross-border sustainability community.

The presentation closed with an introduction to the Interreg Voluntary Youth (IVY) programme, which gives young people the opportunity to volunteer in cross-border cooperation projects. More information is available at www.interregyouth.com.