Science Factory

Izmir University of Economics (IUE), one of the 10 most preferred foundation universities in Turkey by reaching an occupancy rate of 99.6 percent last year, knows no bounds when it comes to projects. The number of research projects carried out by IUE academics reached 82 as of July of this year. The total budget of national and international projects involving 110 academics is 35 million TL. It is very impressive that 36 of the projects, carried out in different fields such as engineering, software, automotive, medical equipment, industrial design, medicine, business and architecture, are realized with university-industry cooperation. As a result of the studies carried out within the university so far, 19 patents have been obtained, 9 utility models, 35 brands, 13 designs were registered.

CAMPUS IZMIR SHOWED ITS EFFECT

IUE Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Aşkar emphasized that they saw the positive reflections of Campus Izmir, which they created as the first model of university-city integration in Turkey. Prof. Dr. Aşkar said, “University means research, entrepreneurship, projects and innovation. It means to work, spend time to implement projects that will add value to our city and country. Of course, for all this to happen, we need to provide the means for both our students and academics. We strive for this and improve our university. Campus Izmir means exactly the points I mentioned, to cooperate with all stakeholders of the city and to produce together. We have started to receive the rewards of the right steps we have taken recently.”

FUNDED BY GRANTS AND FUNDS

Prof. Dr. Aşkar continued as follows: “The number of our projects, which was 43 in 2018, increased rapidly despite the difficult pandemic conditions. Currently, there are 82 active projects. These consist of joint studies carried out with European Union (EU), TUBITAK, development agencies, scientific research projects and projects realized with university-industry cooperation. Project budgets were provided by national or international grants, funds and funding from companies.”

THEY ATTENDED 230 UNIVERSITIES ABROAD

Stating that they attach great importance to the overseas experience of academic staff, Prof. Dr. Aşkar said, “There are 824 academics working in our university. Our teaching staff have ties with 230 universities abroad so far. They received their undergraduate or graduate education abroad, and many of them even gave lectures at foreign universities. One of the most important success criteria of our university is the global scale. Global success happens with academics with international experience. The experience and qualifications of academic staff appear as projects and innovations, and these are reflected in the numbers.”   

OUR STUDENTS ARE AT THE TOP WHEN IT COMES TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Stating that they guide students to produce projects and become entrepreneurs, Prof. Dr. Aşkar said, “We became the university with the most projects produced with 35 new ideas in TUSIAD’s ‘Bu Gençlikte İş Var 2020 Entrepreneurship Competition' for students. In 2021, we organized TUSIAD BGIV Aegean Camp at our university and provided entrepreneurship training to 20 teams. We received more than 100 business idea applications in the first 6 months of 2021. 23 of our entrepreneurs became a company. University’s Project Development and Technology Transfer Office undertakes important tasks in carrying out of all these processes in full, increasing communication with the business world, entrepreneurship and intellectual property.”

WE HAVE FOUR UNITS

IUE Project Development and Technology Transfer Office Coordinator Onur Kanyılmaz said, “All technology transfer activities planned and carried out at the University are managed by our office. We have 4 units within the Office, namely the "National and International Project Funding and Project Management Unit", the "University-Industry Cooperation Unit", the "Intellectual and Industrial Property Rights and Commercialization Unit" and the "Entrepreneurship and Incorporation Unit". Our biggest goal is to take steps to transform ideas into high value-added products and services in cooperation with Izmir Chamber of Commerce and Izmir Science Park.”