The Impact of IZTECH on Reverse Brain Drain: A Science Bridge from Global Giants to Izmir
IZTECH Ranks Second in Türkiye Among All Universities for TÜBİTAK 2232-A and 2232-B Call Grants
7 of the 75 Projects Nationwide Are from IZTECH
The 2025 call results for the 2232-A International Leading Researchers and 2232-B International Young Researchers Program, carried out by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK), were announced by Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır. Among applications submitted from 208 universities across Türkiye, 75 projects earned funding, with Izmir Institute of Technology (IZTECH) achieving a historic national success by securing 7 of these projects for the Institute.
Single-handedly accounting for nearly 10 percent of the projects accepted nationwide, IZTECH has become the destination in Türkiye for scientists working at some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, thanks to its advanced research infrastructure and the strength of its innovative ecosystem.
Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Baran: “It Is No Coincidence That Researchers from Around the World Choose IZTECH”
Commenting on this historic achievement, IZTECH Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Baran emphasized that the Institute has become a global hub for science and technology, stating the following:
“As IZTECH, we are working with determination to elevate our country’s scientific R&D capacity to the highest level through our internationally standardized research infrastructure and our innovative, entrepreneurial ecosystem. It is deeply gratifying that our Institute secured 10 percent of the nationwide funding under this prestigious program, which TÜBİTAK carries out in line with its ‘Reverse Brain Drain’ objective.
The fact that qualified researchers, who carry out critical work at the world’s leading scientific centers, have chosen IZTECH to continue their projects is a result of the advanced technical facilities and high-caliber academic environment we offer, as well as our proven, innovative ecosystem. Together with the leading researchers joining our institution, we will both reinforce our scientific strength in strategic fields and continue to shape our country’s future through the young researchers we will train. I sincerely congratulate all our academics who contributed to this process, as well as the researchers who received this funding.”
Leading Minds Joining the IZTECH Ecosystem from the World’s Foremost Institutions
By bringing scientists from the world’s top-tier research institutions into its fold, IZTECH has once again proven that it has become a global research hub in strategic fields ranging from materials science to photonics, and from molecular biology to environmental engineering.
The researchers joining IZTECH under this call, along with their institutions and disciplines, are as follows:
- Dr. Şevketcan Sarıkaya, Northwestern University (USA): Materials Science and Engineering
- Dr. Moez Louati, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology – HKUST (Hong Kong): Civil Engineering
- Dr. Ozan Aktaş, Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre – IMEC (Belgium): Photonics
- Dr. Atakan Hilmi Fırat, University of California, Davis (USA): Physics
- Dr. Burçin Altun, University of Pennsylvania (USA): Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG)
- Dr. Semra Bakkaloğlu, Imperial College London (UK): Environmental Engineering
- Dr. Hürriyet Yüce Çakır, National Institute of Standards and Technology – NIST (USA): Photonics
A Center of Attraction Strengthened by Advanced Infrastructure and Technopark Integration
Standing out among 208 universities across Türkiye to single-handedly secure nearly one-tenth of total funding, IZTECH has demonstrated that, through its interdisciplinary laboratories, internationally standardized research centers, and technopark integration, it is one of the strongest centers of attraction for qualified brain migration in Türkiye.
The leading scientists who received funding will carry out their critical projects over a period of 24 to 36 months with the modern technical facilities offered by IZTECH, while also reinforcing the country’s scientific human capital through the graduate students and postdoctoral researchers they will train.
