Türkiye’s Patent Champion Istanbul Gelisim University Shared Its Global Vision in Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare at the TTO Meeting

Technology Transfer Office (TTO) directors of universities in Istanbul, including the Istanbul Gelisim University Technology Transfer Office, came together at a meeting hosted by Özyeğin University. Bringing together TTO executives from Istanbul’s leading universities, the meeting comprehensively addressed academics’ motivation to develop projects, strengthening university–industry collaboration, and current developments in artificial intelligence and healthcare technologies.

Throughout the meeting, the motivational factors academics encounter during project development processes and mechanisms to enhance this motivation were evaluated. In particular, attention was drawn to the strategic importance of projects developed in artificial intelligence–based solutions and healthcare technologies in terms of university–industry cooperation. Views were exchanged on the commercialization of R&D activities in these fields, their more effective matching with industry, and supporting them through sustainable models.

Academic Motivation and Teaching Load Discussions at the Core of the Meeting

One of the prominent topics of the meeting was academics’ inability to allocate sufficient time to project development due to heavy teaching loads, and the resulting loss of motivation. Many university representatives emphasized that this situation constitutes a significant barrier to project production and university–industry collaboration.
At this point, Istanbul Gelisim University stood out as a positive “best practice example.” In assessments made by the Istanbul Gelisim University Technology Transfer Office, it was stated that academics demonstrate high productivity in project development. It was emphasized that behind this success lie the university’s academic-centered institutional culture, effective incentive mechanisms, and mentoring processes.

Transition from Quantitative Leadership to Commercialization Focus

At the meeting, the contributions of the Istanbul Gelisim University TTO stood out with the approach of a “transition from quantitative leadership to a commercialization-focused model.” As one of the universities with the highest number of patent applications in Türkiye, IGU shared concrete data demonstrating its success in spreading a strong patent culture.
The IGU TTO presented the incentive models and mentoring processes it developed to increase academics’ motivation for invention as “best practice examples” to other universities. The strategic message delivered at the meeting was clear:
“Just like academic publications, knowledge production that turns into patents should be one of the core performance indicators of universities.”

Strategic Focus on Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare Technologies

Participants highlighted the importance of increasing the number of joint projects in high value-added fields such as artificial intelligence and healthcare technologies. It was emphasized that projects developed in these areas should not only produce scientific outputs, but also generate social benefit and economic value.
While pointing to the bridging role of TTOs between universities and industry, the meeting underlined the necessity of partnership and consortium models rather than individual efforts especially in large-scale R&D projects.

Consortia, Infrastructure Sharing, and International Projects

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was strengthening the groundwork for forming consortia for TÜBİTAK and European Union (Horizon Europe) projects in the fields of artificial intelligence and healthcare. It was emphasized that inter-university collaboration is a strategic necessity for large-budget, multi-stakeholder projects that a single university cannot manage alone.
In addition, collaboration models (ÜSİP) aimed at the shared use of strong laboratory infrastructures by industry and other universities were among the notable topics discussed.

IGU at the Center of the Meeting: Patent Leadership, Internationalization, and Sustainability Vision

The strengths of the Istanbul Gelisim University TTO were frequently highlighted throughout the meeting. Possessing one of the largest patent portfolios in Turkey, IGU supports its leading position in this field with a strong internationalization vision. The importance placed on international accreditations such as AQAS and ABET is reflected in TTO processes, ensuring that projects are carried out in line with global standards.
In addition, IGU’s success in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings has been integrated into TTO projects through the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly bringing health, innovation, and social impact–focused initiatives to the forefront.

Leadership Strengthened by Concrete Success Stories from Istanbul Gelisim University

The data shared at the meeting revealed that Istanbul Gelisim University is not merely a participant, but one of the leading actors in the sector. According to the 2024 data of the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, IGU ranked first in Turkey with 125 patent applications, and led the field particularly in the “Artificial Intelligence Technologies” category with 66 applications.
Moreover, the “PİRİTA – AI-Supported 3D Mapping” project, which became a finalist at THE Awards Asia 2025, stood out as a concrete and internationally recognized example of university–industry collaboration. PİRİTA emerged as a success story with high commercialization and social benefit potential, going beyond theoretical discussions.

Inclusive Innovation and Human-Centered Technology

Another important aspect emphasized by the IGU TTO was its understanding of inclusive innovation. One of the strongest drivers increasing academic motivation was highlighted as the record-level 92% rate of women inventors and student-centered R&D processes. This approach distinguishes IGU not only through numerical success, but also through its cultural and structural transformation.
It was particularly emphasized that the main goal in studies conducted in the fields of healthcare and artificial intelligence is to transform technology not only for industry, but for sustainable human health and social benefit.

A TTO Model from IGU That Shapes the Sector

In the evaluations made at the end of the meeting, it was stated that the Istanbul Gelisim University TTO offers a model that guides the TTO ecosystem with its patent leadership, internationalization vision, and sustainability-focused approach.
In line with the goals of increasing academic productivity, commercializing innovative technologies, and strengthening university–industry collaboration, IGU’s leadership in artificial intelligence and healthcare technologies stood out as a strong reference for future consortia and joint projects.