Session on Project Implementation, Impact & Evaluation

Date: Wednesday, 04 February 2026
Time: Bogota (UTC-5) 8:00-9:45 AM | Berlin (UTC+1) 14:00–15:45 PM | Pretoria (UTC+2) 15:00-16:45 PM | Nairobi/Istanbul (UTC+3) 16:00–17:45 PM | Beijing (UTC+8) 21:00–22:45 PM
Target Audience: Researchers and Research Managers

1. Welcome by WAITRO Operations e.V.

A short introduction and overview of the Capacity Development Initiative and the session’s objectives.

2. Experts Sharing Insights

Insight 1: Strategic Project and Budget Management
Speaker: Serdar YÜCEL (TÜBITAK)

Serdar Yücel will share key strategies for proactively managing project resources to maximize impact. His presentation will focus on:

• Dynamic Management Plans: Treating project plans as living documents, sharing risk-based reviews, contingency budgets and critical task paths
• Budget Agility and Compliance: Real-time financial tracking, handling different accounting standards and currencies, justifying reallocations while aligning with scientific objectives

Insight 2: Effective Impact Assessment and Evaluation
Speakers: Samet Feyyaz HAMAMCI (TÜBITAK) and Ömer Levent Gökçe (innogin)

Samet Feyyaz Hamamci will guide participants on measuring and demonstrating the true impact of projects beyond outputs. His presentation will focus on:

• From Outputs to Impact: Differentiating outputs, outcomes, and long-term societal and economic impact, using Theory of Change
• Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Frameworks: Designing SMART KPIs, collecting baseline data, and using formative evaluation for mid-term adjustments

Insight 3: Performance Tracking, Compliance, and Sustainability
Speakers: Ömer Levent GÖKÇE (Innogin) and Samet Feyyaz HAMAMCI (TÜBITAK)

Ömer Levent Gökçe will discuss practical strategies for reporting, compliance, and ensuring project continuity. He will focus on:

• Seamless Reporting & Compliance: Integrating data collection into daily work, establishing standardized protocols, and translating funder requirements into actionable guidance
• Sustainability & Long-Term Vision: Planning for exploitation and follow-up funding and showing strategies for leveraging current success to future projects

3. Q&A Round

15-20 minutes session segment providing space for questions, discussion, and knowledge exchange.

4. Closing by WAITRO Operations e.V.

Concluding reflections on the session, summarizing the key takeaways and providing remarks on upcoming CDI sessions.

Serdar Yucel (TÜBITAK): As a C-level Executive, Advisor, Coach, and Mentor, Serdar Yucel brings extensive experience in technology and innovation, communication, financial services, engineering and software, as well as energy, mobility, and R&D. He has led sales, people, and program management initiatives across Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Turkey, and the United States. Serdar holds a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, an MBA (UK), and a PMP certification

Samet Feyyaz Hamamci (TÜBITAK): With a PhD in Applied Informatics and a strong academic foundation in Environmental Engineering, Feyyaz Hamamci combines technical expertise with strategic leadership. As a Strategy and Business Development Manager at TÜBITAK Marmara Research Center, his core competencies include research security, international scientific collaboration, project lifecycle management, and science diplomacy. He actively contributes to European Commission working groups on Adaptation to Climate Change and Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. With experience in cross-border collaboration, he is committed to supporting resilient, secure, and collaborative global research ecosystems.

Ömer Levent Gökçe (innogin): With more than 40 years of experience Ömer Gökçe is an innovation and investment advisor in ICT and deep-tech sectors. He mentors startups and SMEs on strategy, funding, scale-up, and internationalization. Having led major EU-funded programs, he works with global organizations to foster sustainable innovation, green transformation, and inclusive growth.