26/10/2026
"Research Info Day 2026," an event dedicated to developments within Sabancı University’s research ecosystem, its academic achievements, and its strategic goals for the coming period, took place on Wednesday, October 21, in the Cinema Hall, drawing a large audience. The event featured an assessment of the university’s national and international research performance, scientific publications, research funding, academic collaborations, and progress in graduate education.
Delivering the opening remarks, Sabancı University President Yusuf Leblebici highlighted how the university’s research-oriented approach is reflected in its national and international rankings. Noting that Sabancı University secured second place among 23 institutions in the "Research Universities Performance Ranking" announced by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Leblebici emphasized that this achievement is all the more significant when considering the university’s scale.
Reflecting on Sabancı University’s approach to research, Prof. Dr. Yusuf Leblebici stated, "We are a relatively small-scale university with a focus on specific, selected fields. We do not operate in every field; rather, in the fields where we are active, we consistently strive for excellence and the highest quality. We are now seeing the results of this." Attributing the university’s research performance to the collective effort of all its components, Leblebici expressed his gratitude to the faculty members and researchers who contributed to this success.
Sabancı University’s Active Research Project Budget Reaches $62 Million
Following the opening remarks, Mehmet Yıldız, Vice President for Research and Development at Sabancı University, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the university’s research performance and its goals for the coming period. Prof. Dr. Yıldız evaluated developments in scientific publication output, both globally and within Türkiye, and shared data regarding Sabancı University’s position within the international research ecosystem.
Announcing that the budget for Sabancı University’s active research projects has reached $62 million, Prof. Dr. Yıldız noted that approximately $15 million in external funding has been secured, based on the contract values of projects initiated in 2026, from industry, the European Union, and national funding sources. Stating that European Union funds now account for approximately 40 percent of the university’s research portfolio, Yıldız emphasized the importance of diversifying international funding sources for the sustainability of research activities.
Touching upon scientific publication performance, Yıldız noted that internationally co-authored publications and high-impact scientific studies hold a significant place in the university’s research strategy. He added that the university specifically aims to increase the share of its research published in journals ranked within the top 1 percent globally.
Growth and Internationalization Goals in Graduate Education
Speaking during the presentation, Cem Güneri, Vice President for Education at Sabancı University, shared updates on developments in graduate education and data regarding student admissions. Güneri noted that there has been a significant increase in applications to graduate programs over the last two years, with more than 100 new students enrolling in doctoral programs for the 2026–2027 academic term.
Stating that the number of students admitted to doctoral programs in the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences has surpassed 70, Prof. Dr. Güneri added that the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Sabancı Business School have also experienced notable growth compared to previous years. He mentioned that approximately 20 percent of the newly enrolled graduate students are international, highlighting an increase in both the volume and the academic caliber of applications from leading universities across various countries.
Emphasizing that graduate education is a priority area within Sabancı University’s growth strategy, Prof. Dr. Cem Güneri noted that efforts are underway to develop joint international master’s and doctoral programs. He further explained that the scholarship opportunities offered to graduate students, along with support provided through externally funded research projects, constitute a key component of this growth objective.
International Collaborations and Strategic Research Investments
Following the remarks of Prof. Dr. Cem Güneri, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Yıldız continued the presentation by detailing Sabancı University’s initiatives to expand its international research partnerships. Referring to the recently launched "seed program", a framework designed to fund collaborative research, with Imperial College London and Ohio State University, Yıldız noted that an agreement has also been reached to establish a similar mechanism with the University of Edinburgh. Prof. Dr. Yıldız stated that these initiatives aim to increase the number of international joint research projects, scientific publications, and academic consultancies.
Touching upon ongoing engagements with the University of Connecticut in the fields of energy and quantum technologies, Prof. Dr. Yıldız emphasized that the university’s internationalization strategy is not limited to institutional agreements alone; rather, it is developed through joint doctoral programs, research projects, and tangible scientific outputs.
Highlighting the areas of research focus at Sabancı University, Prof. Dr. Yıldız introduced new faculty members who have joined the university as of 2026, along with their respective research fields.
Underscoring the importance of the research strategy, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Yıldız remarked, "Our scale is limited, and therefore our resources are also limited, yet our goals are boundless." He noted that allocating resources in alignment with established priorities plays a crucial role in the university’s scientific development.
In the final part of his presentation, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Yıldız addressed developments regarding research funding, noting that the successes achieved within the framework of the European Union’s "Horizon" programs have strengthened Sabancı University’s position within the international research ecosystem. He highlighted that the university has seen significant growth in EU-supported research projects over the years and currently holds a leading position in Türkiye in terms of funding secured per faculty member.
Research Info Day 2026 concluded with the sharing of Sabancı University’s current research performance and its priorities for the coming period with the academic community.
