MARTEST Building Inaugurated at GTU

September 16, 2025 - GTU Office of Press and Public Relations
 

Gebze Technical University (GTU) takes a significant step in scientific collaboration between Türkiye and Japan. The Marmara Research and Education Complex for Developing Disaster-Resilient Societies (MARTEST), built on GTU’s campus, is officially inaugurated during a ceremony.

The opening ceremony of this internationally collaborative project was attended by a large number of academics, including Prof. Hacı Ali Mantar, GTU Rector; Prof. Mustafa Verşan Kök, Rector of the Turkish-Japanese Science and Technology University; Şener Akın, Deputy Mayor of Gebze; Prof. Bülent Akbaş, MARTEST Director; the Japanese delegation.

During the speeches, the importance of Türkiye and Japan as earthquake-prone countries was emphasized. It was noted that tragic experiences such as the 1999 Marmara Earthquake, the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes, and the 2023 Noto Earthquake have driven both countries to develop a joint scientific collaboration. MARTEST was described not only as a research center but also as a “bridge of hope for the future.”

World-Class Infrastructure: What the MARTEST Facilities Offer

The MARTEST building is equipped with world-class infrastructure for research on earthquake-resistant building systems and tsunami hazards. Key features of the center include:

          Large-scale shake table

          Tsunami wave channels

          Advanced materials laboratories

          Dedicated sections for disaster early warning technologies

Thanks to these advanced facilities, MARTEST is expected to become an important testing and research hub not only for Türkiye but also for the wider region.

GTU Rector Mantar: “This Center Is Part of Our Vision To Build Disaster-Resilient Cities”

Speaking at the opening, GTU Rector Prof. Hacı Ali Mantar emphasized that MARTEST represents an important part of GTU’s vision for building disaster-resilient cities. “This inauguration is not just about opening a building; it is a demonstration of turning a great vision into reality.” Mantar said, expressing his gratitude to everyone who contributed to the project. He also thanked the Japanese team, the Presidency of Strategy and Budget, the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, and AFAD for their support.

Rector Mantar highlighted that MARTEST will not only serve as a laboratory but also as an international collaboration platform. Announcing that the center will soon be fully operational and testing will commence, Mantar concluded: “We hope that within a year, we will fully activate this building and start our tests. In doing so, we will take significant steps toward building a safer and more resilient future in cooperation with our national and international stakeholders.”