13/04/2026
Sabancı University has been selected as the official partner of World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development (WED) 2026, an annual event highlighting the fundamental role of engineers and engineering worldwide.
Sabancı University President Prof. Dr. Yusuf Leblebici, in his assessment of World Engineering Day 2026, stated, “At Sabancı University, we not only produce knowledge but also transform this knowledge into concrete solutions that guide a sustainable and inclusive future. Our research integrates science, technology, and society to offer innovative answers to global problems. We are proud to be a part of World Engineering Day 2026, which emphasizes the role of engineering in building a sustainable future.”
“We develop pioneering and effective technologies with our research”
Sabancı University Vice President for Research Prof. Dr. Mehmet Yıldız emphasized that Sabancı University rapidly translates its research into applications thanks to strong industry collaborations: “We are rapidly transforming our research into concrete solutions thanks to our strong industry partnerships; we support sectors such as aviation, automotive, and defense with advanced composites and smart manufacturing systems. Beyond technical excellence, we focus on social impact with initiatives like SUCool, maximizing our contribution to economic growth and sustainability with innovative business models.”
“Sustainability and innovation are at the heart of our vision”
Prof. Dr. Selmiye Alkan Gürsel, a faculty member at Sabancı University's Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, drew attention to the university's sustainability and innovation-focused work, stating, “Sustainability and innovation form the foundation of our vision. As a university, we are responding to global problems such as climate change and energy security with innovative solutions we develop in the field of clean energy and sustainability. Our research, focusing on green hydrogen, fuel cells, electrolyzers, and next-generation battery systems, is supported by our advanced infrastructure facilities and is transformed into real-life applications. By actively participating in international initiatives, we contribute to a low-carbon future,” thus underlining the important role Sabancı University plays in the field of sustainability.
“Industry's need for recyclable materials is increasing”
Prof. Dr. Burcu Saner Okan, a faculty member at Sabancı University’s Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, pointed out that with the climate crisis and the accelerating decarbonization in transportation, industry’s need for lightweight, reusable, and recyclable materials is increasing: “At Sabancı University, we are aligning our research and education activities with Sustainable Development Goal 9 (SDG 9). The composites we develop with circular economy and sustainable nanoengineering principles offer scalable solutions for low-carbon industries, and we achieve this by increasing the technology readiness level (TRL) of the composite structures we design. With our patented processes, we transform plastic waste into graphene and other nanomaterials, using them in the production of lightweight and high-performance composites. We make materials lighter and more environmentally friendly in the automotive and aerospace sectors, measure carbon footprints, and provide eco-design guidance.”
World Engineering Day declared by UNESCO
The events within the scope of World Engineering Day were launched on March 4, 2026, in Jakarta, Indonesia. This year's theme focuses on "smart engineering for sustainable future through innovation and digitalization."
World Engineering Day, an official international day declared by UNESCO, is organized by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), a global organization with members from over 100 countries and representing more than 30 million engineers worldwide.
