The fifth and sixth generations (5G/6G) of cellular networks have to handle an unprecedented surge in data traffic, which comes as a result of the emergence of a wide range of applications, notably, the Internet of Everything, haptic internet, digital-twin, to name a few. On one hand, mobile users expect to experience high-speed and reliable wireless access at an affordable cost. On the other hand, service providers aim at maximizing profits and are expecting cost-effective solutions from wireless industry. Increasing the capacity of the Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN) capitalizes in a part on reducing the cell sizes and the transmissions on high-frequency bands (e.g., millimeter wave) that offer small coverage. However, these solutions call for a dense deployment of base stations, where traditionally each comes with the expenses of establishing fiber links to the core network and a site acquisition (tower lease). The wireless industry leaders opt for developing flexible and more cost-effective NG-RAN that revolve around the dense deployment of low-cost radio access nodes with Integrated Access and Backhauling (IAB). The wireless backhauling/fronthauling feature will ease the task of IAB nodes deployment/relocation and save in the cost of the fiber-based bakchauling network. Although IAB is an attractive solution that could make dense deployments economically viable, efficient approaches for the optimization and management of the resulting large-scale and heterogeneous NG-RAN remain subject to investigation. Together with my supervisor Prof O. Ercetin, I will contribute to the efforts of building cost-effective NG-RANs empowered by IAB nodes, in particular, to the automation of the deployment, operation, and fast-recovery of NG-RANs. This project investigates two overlapping and complementing research problems: unsupervised planning and optimization of NG-RAN; and reliable backhauling/fronthauling wireless network for IAB nodes.

The general objective of the project is to increase the SMEs’ innovation and innovation management capacity to enhance the regional innovation ecosystem in which they exist. In order to reach this objective the project will focus on two specific activities. The first specific objective is to act as a “Key Account Manager” to make sure that the beneficiaries of the SME Instrument in the region would face no difficulties and constraints during execution of their innovation project. The project aims to support these companies throughout Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the SME Instrument by diagnosing SME’s innovation management capacity to identify the obstructs that hinders the generation of economic impact and by addressing these challenges with the help of competent coaches in the related fields. The second specific objective is to strengthen the innovation management capacity of the SMEs with significant innovation activities but lack the knowledge, skills or ability to manage these activities. The aim in this action is to make SMEs to reach their potential by providing better management of the innovation processes. As a result of the services provided in this scheme, the project also aims to increase the level of participation in European support to research and innovation of the SMEs in the region. According to the data obtained from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) there are around 150 SMEs in the region with an adequate innovation capacity and has submitted at least one proposal to international R&D calls. Considering the available human resources and the time constraints (8.5 months, 3 people) project aims to provide 39 service packages in the context of innovation support and the Key Account Management activities.

Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) technique. If two or more parties are in disagreement, then they can take the case to a court and let the judge give the final decision. Alternatively, the disputing parties can get the help of an experienced, neutral third party (i.e., the mediator) who facilitates a negotiation and help the disagreeing parties reach an agreement short of litigation. The mediation process is private and confidential, possibly enforced by law (European Mediation Directive 2008). The rising popularity of mediation can be explained by the increasing workload of courts, by the fact that mediation is less costly than litigation, and by the desire of some control over the final decision. This proposed project aims to make a state-of-the-art economic analysis of mediation in civil and commercial matters. The main motivation behind this project is to determine optimal strategies and methods for eliminating the inefficiencies that possibly arise in mediation practices.