ITU Hosted WAITRO’s 96th Executive Board Meeting

The World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organizations (WAITRO) convened participants from various parts of the world at its 96th Executive Board Meeting hosted by Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, Rector of ITU and President of WAITRO for the 2025–2026 term, at Istanbul Technical University (ITU).

Istanbul Technical University (ITU) hosted the 96th Executive Board Meeting of the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organizations (WAITRO) from April 7 to 9, 2025. Known as the “global innovation family,” WAITRO has been active since 1970 and currently brings together 180 member organizations from over 60 countries around the world. The 95th Executive Board Meeting of WAITRO was held in November last year in Nanjing, People’s Republic of China.

Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, Rector of ITU and President of WAITRO, expressed his happiness in hosting the members of the Executive Board from various parts of the world at ITU.

Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal stated that during the meeting, the strategic goals of WAITRO were discussed in the context of the WAITRO Summit, which is planned to take place at ITU in 2026. The upcoming WAITRO Summit will focus on the theme Leading the Path of Implementation – Strengthening Co-Creation for our Common Future," aiming to emphasize the power of collaborative production and implementation approaches for the future in light of current global developments.

About WAITRO

Known as the "global innovation family," WAITRO began its activities in 1970 under the auspices of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). UNIDO remains an important partner of WAITRO today. Both organizations collaborate to strengthen the capacity of research institutions in developing countries within the framework of their shared goals of sustainable industrial development and technological innovation. In this context, they work together on projects and initiatives, sharing knowledge, expertise, and best practices to enhance the capacities of member organizations.

WAITRO creates a platform for international collaboration in research and development (R&D) through a global innovation ecosystem where research and technology institutions, including universities, partner with the private and public sectors.