18/02/2026
The application process has begun for the 2026-2027 Mercator-IPC Research Fellowship Program, run by Sabancı University, the Istanbul Policy Center, and the Stiftung Mercator Initiative. The program's main themes are EU-Germany-Türkiye Relations and Climate Change. Academics, journalists, and experts from Germany and Europe, or those with strong ties to German society, can apply until March 9th.
Applications are being accepted for the Mercator-IPC Research Fellowship Program, run by the Istanbul Policy Center – Sabancı University – Stiftung Mercator Initiative. The themes for the 2026-2027 period are EU-Germany-Türkiye Relations and Climate Change. Applications for the first phase of the Research Fellowship Programme for academics, journalists, practitioners, and experts from Germany and Europe, or those with strong ties to German society, can be submitted until March 9, 2026.
A master's degree (or equivalent) is required, while a doctorate is preferred. Candidates without a doctorate may be considered for the jury evaluation if their professional experience and expertise meet the program requirements. Priority will be given to projects focusing on German-Turkish relations.
Objective: Strengthening the EU-Germany-Türkiye Partnership
The initiative and research fellowship program aim to give new impetus to the EU-Germany-Türkiye partnership. To this end, studies focusing on topics such as European security and defense cooperation and its impact on EU-Türkiye relations; economic, trade and technological cooperation between the EU/Germany and Türkiye in the changing international order; Türkiye's role in the wider European neighborhood and the EU's external actions and Türkiye's importance in EU foreign policy will be evaluated within the scope of the program.
Furthermore, the program aims to raise awareness about the threats posed by climate change. The program particularly focuses on Türkiye, where the issue of climate change has not yet attracted the necessary political and public attention. In this context, under the theme of Climate Change, studies are expected to focus on issues such as mitigation and adaptation policies, analysis of social and economic impacts of climate change; effective multi-level governance mechanisms for mitigation and adaptation to climate change; obstacles to policy reform and overcoming the alleged dilemma between economic development and climate change mitigation policies; mapping the impacts of climate change in Europe and Türkiye; the decarbonization of the Turkish economy based on the Paris Agreement and Türkiye's net-zero emissions target.
Researchers conduct their studies at the Istanbul Policy Center.
The Mercator-IPC Research Fellowship Program aims to enable international academics and practitioners specializing in areas of collaboration to conduct research in Türkiye and share their research findings with the public under the institutional identity of the IPC-Sabancı University-Stiftung Mercator Initiative. Fellows selected under the program conduct their studies at the Istanbul Policy Center, an independent policy research center located in the heart of Istanbul with global reach. Research fellowships are awarded for periods of 6 to 12 months. Short-term research fellowships of at least one month are also offered for practitioners from Germany and Europe.
