SDSN Black Sea

regional Network

Region: Europe

SDSN Black Sea mobilizes local knowledge to advance viable solutions to sustainable development challenges in the Black Sea region. The network, hosted by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and established in 2018, includes the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine. Key focus areas include monitoring SDG implementation in the region (SDR Black Sea edition, Black Sea SDGs Observatory); advocating for the transition to a low-carbon economy by organizing the annual Thessaloniki Sustainability Summit, and engaging with high-level events and initiatives like the UN's Conference of Parties (COP), the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET) and the Baku Forum. Additionally, the network focuses on empowering youth by hosting and supporting the chapter of SDSN Youth in the Black Sea.

Network Hosts

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Network Website

Stay Connected

High-level Engineers Group Selects SDSN Black Sea's Chair as a Member

The Chair of SDSN Black Sea, Prof. Nicolaos Theodossiou, was selected as a member of the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET), a high-level body of engineers and energy system experts helping build the UN Secretary General's coalition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. In this capacity, Prof. Theodossiou participated in the CEET meeting alongside the UN General Assembly in September and at COP28 in December 2023. Additionally, the chair of SDSN Black Sea, together with the chairs of SDSN Europe, continues to actively offer support to Ukrainian universities.

Youth-centered, Socio-environmental Events Connect Students with Professionals

SDSN Black Sea has actively supported youth activities aiming at connecting students with professionals and scientists regarding societal and environmental issues through co-organizing targeted events. For example, by supporting SDSN Youth Black Sea and the SDG Students Hub AUTh., 150 people attended an informative event about floods in urban environments.

Gender Equality Project Promotes Women's Scientific Career Development

SDSN Black Sea participated in the webinar "Transformative Solutions for Achieving Gender Equality" by showcasing a proposal titled "Women Empowerment in Science." The project, presented by Prof. Olga Iermakova from the Institute of Market and Economic & Ecological Researchers of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, aims to promote women's scientific work and encourage their career development in the field of science.

Thessaloniki Sustainability Summit 2025 Marks 10 Years of the Paris Agreement

SDSN Black Sea convened the 6th Thessaloniki Sustainability Summit on 2–3 October 2025, under the theme “10 Years of the Paris Agreement," bringing together scientists, policymakers and international experts for high-level discussions on climate action and sustainable development. The Summit was hosted with the support of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in collaboration with the Department of Civil Engineering and with the World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS). It was recognized by the United Nations as part of global anniversary events for the Paris Agreement and featured keynote speakers, Professor Jeffrey Sachs and Professor Mat Santamouris.

SDSN Black Sea Network Members

Organization	Country	Network	Sector
Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
Institute of Defensive Health Sciences, University of Health Sciences	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Sakarya University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
Sakarya University of Applied Sciences	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
"Athena" Research & Innovation Center in Information, Communication & Knowledge Technologies	Greece	Greece	Research Institution
Abdullah Gül University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
ADA University	Azerbaijan	Black Sea	University (Institution-wide)
Agency for Innovation and Development	Moldova, Republic of	Black Sea	Non-Governmental Organization
Alte University	Georgia	Black Sea	University (Institution-wide)
Altinbas University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
American College of Greece	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
Anadolu University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Ano Sei "Generation of Sustainable Development"	Russian Federation	Russia	Non-Governmental Organization
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
Armenian State University of Economics	Armenia	Black Sea	University (Institution-wide)
Association of Energy Markets Participants “Goal Number Seven” (GNS)	Russian Federation	Russia	Non-Governmental Organization
Ataturk University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Athens Lifelong Learning Institute	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
Athens University of Economics and Business	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)Research Institution
Aydın Adnan Menderes University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University	Azerbaijan	Black Sea	University (Institution-wide)
Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction	Azerbaijan	Black Sea	University (Institution-wide)
Babeș-Bolyai University, Faculty of Geography, Research Centre for Sustainable Development	Romania	Romania	University (Department/Institute)
Bahçeşehir University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Batman University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Batumi State Maritime Academy	Georgia	Black Sea	University (Department/Institute)
Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
Bilkent University	Türkiye	Türkiye	Research Institution
Biruni University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
Boğaziçi University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE)	Romania	Romania	University (Department/Institute)
Business and Technology University	Georgia	Black Sea	University (Department/Institute)
Cag University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
Centre for Research and Technology Hellas - Institute of Applied Biosciences	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
Chernihiv Polytechnic National University	Ukraine	Black Sea	University (Department/Institute)
Comrat State University	Moldova, Republic of	Black Sea	University (Institution-wide)
Cukurova University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics Svishtov	Bulgaria	Bulgaria	University (Institution-wide)
Democritus University Of Thrace	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
Doğuş University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
Dokuz Eylul University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
Ecological club "MGIMO GOES GREEN"	Russian Federation	Russia	Non-Governmental Organization
Economic Research Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Bulgaria	Bulgaria	Research Institution
Edam Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Ege University Environmental Problems Application and Research Centre (EU-CEVMER)	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development	Serbia	Black SeaWestern Balkans	Non-Governmental Organization
Environmental Investment Center	Russian Federation	Russia	Non-Governmental Organization
Erciyes University	Türkiye	Türkiye	Research Institution
Faculty of Economics, University of Shkodra Luigj Gurakuqi	Albania	Black SeaWestern Balkans	University (Department/Institute)
Faculty of Economics, University of Tirana	Albania	Black SeaWestern Balkans	University (Department/Institute)
Faculty of Health Sciences Nutrition and Dietetic Department, Inonu University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Făgăraș Research Institute	Romania	Romania	Research Institution
Gazi University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
Gebze Technical University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Goulandris Natural History Museum	Greece	Greece	Research Institution
Gugushvili Institute of Economics, Tbilisi State University (TSU)	Georgia	Black Sea	University (Department/Institute)
Hacettepe University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)Research Institution
HAROKOPIO UNIVERSITY	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
Hellenic Centre for Marine Research	Greece	Greece	Research Institution
Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP)	Greece	Greece	Research InstitutionNon-Governmental Organization
Hellenic Mediterranean	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
Hellenic Pasteur Institute	Greece	Greece	Research Institution
Higher School of Insurance and Finance (VUZF University)	Bulgaria	Bulgaria	University (Institution-wide)
Ibn Haldun University Business School	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
INDEPENDENT STUDIES OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
Institute of Environmental Economics and Sustainable Development of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine	Ukraine	Black Sea	Research Institution
Institute of Geography of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine	Ukraine	Black Sea	Research Institution
International Center for Responsible Tourism ICRT Russia	Russian Federation	Russia	Non-Governmental Organization
International Centre for Research on the Environment and the Economy (ICRE8)	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
International European University	Ukraine	Black Sea	University (Institution-wide)
International Hellenic University	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
International Partnership and Development Organization	Russian Federation	Russia	University (Department/Institute)
Interregional Academy of Personnel Management	Ukraine	Black Sea	University (Institution-wide)
Ionan University	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
Ionian University	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
Istanbul Beykent University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Istanbul Bilgi University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Istanbul Gedik University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Istanbul Kultur University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Istanbul Medeniyet University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
ISTANBUL MEDİPOL UNIVERSITY	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Istanbul Nisantasi University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
Istanbul Okan University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)Research InstitutionNon-Governmental OrganizationFoundation/Donor Organization
Istanbul Technical University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Istanbul Ticaret University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Istanbul University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Istanbul University- Cerrahpaşa	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
İstanbul Yeni Yüzyıl University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
Istinye University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University	Georgia	Black Sea	University (Department/Institute)
Izmir University of Economics	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
Kadir Has Üniversitesi	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Karadeniz Technical University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Kastamonu University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
Kayseri University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
Kazan State Medical University	Russian Federation	Russia	University (Department/Institute)
Khazar University	Azerbaijan	Black Sea	University (Institution-wide)
Koç University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Laboratory of Sociology of Culture and Civilization of the Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
Mersin University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Metropolitan College	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
Middle East Technical University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Moscow University S. Witte	Russian Federation	Russia	University (Department/Institute)
Mugla Sitki Kocman University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Mus Alparslan University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
National Research & Development Institute for Food Bioresources – IBA Bucharest	Romania	Romania	Research Institution
National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
National University "Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic"	Ukraine	Black Sea	University (Department/Institute)
National University "Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic"	Ukraine	Black Sea	University (Department/Institute)Research Institution
National University Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic	Ukraine	Black Sea	University (Department/Institute)
NGO "GoLOCAL"	Ukraine	Black Sea	Non-Governmental Organization
NGO "League of Professional Women"	Ukraine	Black Sea	Non-Governmental Organization
Non-commercial organization Foundation for Development of the Center for Elaboration and Commercialization of New Technologies	Russian Federation	Russia	Foundation/Donor Organization
North Ossetian State University	Russian Federation	Russia	University (Department/Institute)
Open School of Sustainable Development	Russian Federation	Russia	University (Department/Institute)
OSTIM Technical University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
Ovidius University of Constanta	Romania	Romania	University (Department/Institute)
Ozyegin University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Peoples' Friendship University of Russia	Russian Federation	Russia	University (Institution-wide)
Polissia National University	Ukraine	Black Sea	University (Institution-wide)
Political Economy of Sustainable Development Lab (PESD), National and Kapodistrian University of Athens	Greece	Greece	Research Institution
Poltava State Agrarian University	Ukraine	Black Sea	University (Institution-wide)
QualityNet Foundation	Greece	Greece	Civil Society Organization
Remote Sensing Laboratory, National Technical University of Athens	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
Research and Implementation Centre for Non-Governmental Institutions, Marmara University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Research Unit of Environmental Education and Communication, Department of Public and Community Health, University of West Attica	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
Russian Carbon Fund	Russian Federation	Russia
Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)	Russian Federation	Russia	Non-Governmental Organization
Sabancı University Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Saint Petersburg State University, Institute of Earth Sciences, Department of Ecological Safety & Sustainable Development of Regions	Russian Federation	Russia	Research Institution
Serbian All-Party Parliamentary Group for Sustainable Development	Serbia	Black SeaWestern Balkans	Non-Governmental Organization
Şirnak University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
Social and Strategic Research Center; Cappadocia University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Bulgaria	Bulgaria	University (Institution-wide)
State Organization "Institute of Market and Economic & Ecological Researches of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine"	Ukraine	Black Sea	Research Institution
Sustainable Development Unit at ATHENA Research and Innovation Centre	Greece	Greece	Research Institution
Technical University of Cluj-Napoca	Romania	Romania	University (Department/Institute)
TED University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
The «Оlexandria» State Dendrological Park of the NAS of Ukraine	Ukraine	Black Sea	University (Department/Institute)
The Fund for Support and Development of Environmental and Other Socially Significant Projects "Our Fund"	Russian Federation	Russia	Non-Governmental OrganizationFoundation/Donor Organization
Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
Toros University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Institution-wide)
Trakia University	Bulgaria	Bulgaria	University (Institution-wide)
University of Crete	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
University of European Studies of Moldova	Moldova, Republic of	Black Sea	University (Institution-wide)
University of National and World Economy (UNWE)	Bulgaria	Bulgaria	University (Institution-wide)
University of Patras (UPAT)	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
University of Peloponnese	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
University of Peloponnese, Department of Economics, E-Cube Lab	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
University of Piraeus	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
University of the Aegean	Greece	Greece	University (Department/Institute)
Üsküdar University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar"	Bulgaria	Bulgaria	University (Institution-wide)
Western University	Azerbaijan	Black Sea	University (Institution-wide)
Yeditepe University	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
Yildiz Technical University Center for Finance Corporate Governance and Sustainability (CFGS)	Türkiye	Türkiye	University (Department/Institute)
YUVA	Türkiye	Türkiye	Non-Governmental Organization