The results of the second University Entrepreneurship and Innovation Index were announced by Nihat Ergün, Minister of Science and Technology. According to the Index, Sabancı University increased its score from 84 in 2012 to 85.8 in 2013.
Sabancı University the most entrepreneurial and innovative private university in Turkey
Compared to the results last year, Sabancı University increased its score in three out of five aspects and maintained full mark in one aspect. The improvement led to an increase of 1.8 points in the score to 85.8. Having received full mark in one aspect last year, Sabancı University received full marks in the "scientific and technological research competence" and "cooperation and interaction" aspects this year, becoming the only university to receive full marks in two aspects.
The factors that help Sabancı University in this achievement include the vision to "create and develop together" aided by an interdisciplinary structure not divided into academic departments; a research-based system of education that involves students in research from their first year onwards; research projects conducted by students throughout their undergraduate education; Entrepreneurship, Technology Management, Strategic Innovation, Society and Science courses that nurture new ideas; Civic Involvement Projects that aim to instill an awareness of the community and environment in students, and innovative cooperation efforts that prepare students for global competition.
The Top 10 Universities on the Index
1. MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY: 86 points
2. SABANCI UNIVERSITY: 85.8 points
3. İHSAN DOĞRAMACI BİLKENT UNIVERSITY: 82.7 points
4. BOĞAZİÇİ UNIVERSITY: 76.3 points
5. ISTANBUL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY: 72.5 points
6. IZMIR INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY: 68.1 points
7. ÖZYEĞİN UNIVERSITY: 67.4 points
8. KOÇ UNIVERSITY: 61.7 points
9. TOBB ECONOMICS AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY: 57 points
10. HACETTEPE UNIVERSITY: 56.7 points
The Research and Graduate Policy (RGP), a unique division of Sabancı University that serves as a model for other universities in Turkey, supports the creation of strategic research objectives and the implementation of policies to facilitate research activities and innovative initiatives that will convert scientific and technological advances to social and economic benefit.
The contributions of Sabancı University faculty members and researchers as well as the students, alumni and all employees of the university play a crucial part in the success of the university.
Research and Development (R&D) and innovation are among the key drivers of economic growth and development of nations. Since establishment, Sabancı University and the ecosystem it created have been a vital part of the R&D and innovation environment in Turkey. The index is expected to increase entrepreneurship and innovation-based competition between universities and help Turkey to achieve its objectives for the year 2023.
The Technological and Scientific Research Council of Turkey ranked the top 50 universities in Turkey for the first time last year in what would become the University Entrepreneurship and Innovation Index. The index ranks universities according to their innovation and entrepreneurship performances, thereby aiming to contribute to the development of the innovation ecosystem.
The index ranks universities under five aspects of scientific and technological research competence, intellectual property pool, cooperation and interaction, culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, and economic contribution and commercialization according to 23 indicators. The top 50 universities among the total of 136 universities on the list have been announced. The Index will be compiled annually with the support of the Council for Higher Education, Turkish Statistical Institution, the Ministry of Science and Technology, TPE, Ministry of Development, Turkish Academy of Sciences, TTGV and KOSGEB.
On the first Index in 2012, Sabancı University had ranked first with 84 points and METU second with 83 points, followed by İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent University with 70 points.