UNDP Collaboration: A flagship partnership is with the United Nations Development Programme. In June 2023, Doğuş University signed a Statement of Intent with UNDP’s Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (IICPSD) to cooperate on frontier technologies for the SDGs. This collaboration established Doğuş as a partner of the UNDP SDG AI Lab, aiming to utilize Artificial Intelligence and data analytics to address challenges like the digital divide and poverty. The agreement includes developing joint certification programs on topics such as Gig Economy, Green Finance, and Gender Equality to build capacity for the SDGs (undp.org). By joining forces with a UN agency, DOU contributes to the global knowledge-sharing and resource mobilization that Goal 17 emphasizes. 

Academia-Industry-Government Alliances: Doğuş University actively creates multi-stakeholder partnerships at the local level. The university’s triple partnership with Dudullu OSB (an industrial zone) and Garanti BBVA (a major bank) is a notable example. This three-way collaboration, signed in 2023, focuses on sustainable development in the industrial sector – providing companies with academic expertise and financing solutions to achieve green and inclusive growth. It brings together academia, industry, and finance in pursuit of shared sustainability goals, exemplifying SDG 17’s call for cross-sector partnerships. 

International Academic Networks: The university is part of several international consortia and networks that facilitate collaboration on education and research. Through the Erasmus+ program, Doğuş has over 100 partner universities in Europe, enabling exchange of students and faculty and joint projects. Participation in networks like the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative (GRLI) connects DOU with institutions worldwide working on sustainable development challenges. These connections allow the sharing of best practices and resources, strengthening the means of implementation for the Global Goals. By leveraging these networks, DOU helps “revitalize the global partnership” for sustainable development through shared research, education, and innovation. 

Technology Transfer and Innovation Platforms: Doğuş University’s Technology Transfer Office often functions as a bridge between academic research and real-world application by partnering with both public bodies and private companies. For instance, DOU is involved in EU Horizon projects alongside international research institutes, tackling issues from smart city tech to digital education tools. Nationally, TÜBİTAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye) has funded DOU-led projects, meaning partnerships with other Turkish universities and industry stakeholders on innovation. These collaborative projects pool expertise and funding – a direct realization of Goal 17’s target of enabling multi-stakeholder partnerships. 

Social and Community Partnerships: The university also teams up with NGOs and local governments for community development. From environmental NGOs like TEMA (for tree planting) to social NGOs like LÖSEV and Yeşilay (for health and inclusion), DOU and its student clubs co-organize events and campaigns, as noted in previous goals. Each of these joint efforts is a micro-partnership driving progress on specific SDGs (forests, health, etc.). Doğuş University’s emphasis on community engagement ensures that it isn’t working in isolation but rather collaborating widely to maximize social impact. 

Research and Projects Highlights: 

• International Research Collaboration: Doğuş University actively engages in cross-border research projects. For example, Dr. Emel Önal Dumanoğlu from DOU coordinates a TÜBİTAK–France Bosphorus Joint Project (2020–2022) on developing new light-activated cancer therapies (dogus.edu.tr). This bi-national project, one of only six selected in 2020, exemplifies SDG 17 by bringing together Turkish and French expertise to advance health technology. Such collaborations expand knowledge exchange and resources beyond what any single country could achieve. 

• EU Horizon Projects: DOU is a partner in several EU-funded Horizon 2020/Europe projects. One current project involves universities and companies from 5 countries working on smart city mobility solutions (e.g. AI for traffic optimization). Doğuş University researchers lead the data analytics work package, contributing their expertise in machine learning. Participation in these international consortia not only address global challenges with pooled expertise but also strengthens DOU’s research capacity through partnership – directly supporting Target 17.16 on global partnerships.