Knowledge Knowledge and Innovation for and Innovation for the Benefit of Societythe Benefit of Society

Semra Ulku, PresidentSemra Ulku, President

Izmir Institute of TechnologyIzmir Institute of Technology

Calculus of Innovation: Calculus of Innovation: “Knowledge drives innovation, innovation drives “Knowledge drives innovation, innovation drives productivity, productivity drives economic transformation and growth.” productivity, productivity drives economic transformation and growth.” (Broady 2005)(Broady 2005)

Universities and their research can be important contributors in this regard; Universities and their research can be important contributors in this regard; however, in the past it has been difficult for Turkish universities to however, in the past it has been difficult for Turkish universities to turn their research into innovationturn their research into innovationprotect their innovations protect their innovations use those innovations to fund new research.use those innovations to fund new research.

Investment in education and research is the single best way for most Investment in education and research is the single best way for most persistent and difficult challengespersistent and difficult challenges

Changing Nature of EngineeringChanging Nature of Engineering

The nature of engineering work has been changing steadily and The nature of engineering work has been changing steadily and the engineers are being transformed from “answer-giver” alone the engineers are being transformed from “answer-giver” alone to “problem architects”. to “problem architects”.

The volume of information that engineers are collectively called The volume of information that engineers are collectively called upon to know is increasing far more rapidly than the ability of upon to know is increasing far more rapidly than the ability of engineering curricula to “cover it”. engineering curricula to “cover it”.

The integration of knowledge and the development of critical The integration of knowledge and the development of critical skills needed to make appropriate use of knowledge is becoming skills needed to make appropriate use of knowledge is becoming more important than from the simple presentation of knowledge. more important than from the simple presentation of knowledge.

Significant changes in engineering education will be required if Significant changes in engineering education will be required if we are to meet the needs of our graduates in preparing them for we are to meet the needs of our graduates in preparing them for the challenges of the future the challenges of the future

Requirement of Interdisciplinary Requirement of Interdisciplinary Research and EducationResearch and Education

Knowledge is extracted (by disciplines) from a fully Knowledge is extracted (by disciplines) from a fully integrated world. Meeting the challenges-the pulling integrated world. Meeting the challenges-the pulling together of separate areas of knowledge and sometimes together of separate areas of knowledge and sometimes re-integrating and recasting them-which the re-integrating and recasting them-which the disciplinary processes often create, is essential. disciplinary processes often create, is essential. Interdisciplinary research is-and has always been-a Interdisciplinary research is-and has always been-a necessarynecessary..

The US and Japan are still far ahead of the EU25The US and Japan are still far ahead of the EU25 The innovation gap between the EU25 and Japan is increasing and the one The innovation gap between the EU25 and Japan is increasing and the one

between EU and US is close to stable. between EU and US is close to stable. The EU invests about a third less in research than the US, and the EU/US The EU invests about a third less in research than the US, and the EU/US

innovation gap has not narrowed in recent years. innovation gap has not narrowed in recent years. Meanwhile, emerging countries like China and India are risingMeanwhile, emerging countries like China and India are rising

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Dotted lines show EU25 mean performance.

According to the 5According to the 5thth Edition of the Edition of the European Innovation Scoreboard:European Innovation Scoreboard:

““Leading countries”Leading countries”: Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, : Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and GermanyDenmark and Germany

““Average performance”Average performance”: France, Luxembourg, : France, Luxembourg, Ireland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Norway, Italy and IcelandAustria, Norway, Italy and Iceland

““Catching up”Catching up”: Slovenia, Hungary, Portugal, Czech : Slovenia, Hungary, Portugal, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Greece, Cyprus and Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Greece, Cyprus and MaltaMalta

““Losing ground”Losing ground”: Estonia, Spain, Bulgaria, Poland, : Estonia, Spain, Bulgaria, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and TurkeySlovakia, Romania and Turkey

Izmir Institute of TechnologyIzmir Institute of Technology

• a research-intensive university with emphasis on a research-intensive university with emphasis on interdisciplinary studiesinterdisciplinary studies

• offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in science, engineering and architecture science, engineering and architecture

• language of instruction is Englishlanguage of instruction is English • established in 1992established in 1992

Izmir Institute of TechnologyIzmir Institute of Technology• Education is student-centered, research, and project oriented on all Education is student-centered, research, and project oriented on all

levels and encourages teamwork in an interdisciplinary context.levels and encourages teamwork in an interdisciplinary context.• The motivation for research is increased by research and design The motivation for research is increased by research and design

project competitionproject competitions.s.• Designed to encourage scientific thinking and research with project Designed to encourage scientific thinking and research with project

courses from the first term of the freshman year, until graduation.courses from the first term of the freshman year, until graduation.• Students become aware of the knowledge and skills necessary to Students become aware of the knowledge and skills necessary to

complete their projects, students’ motivation for their course work is complete their projects, students’ motivation for their course work is greatly enhanced. greatly enhanced.

• Interdisciplinary degrees awarded in materials science and Interdisciplinary degrees awarded in materials science and engineering, bioengineering, environmental engineering, and energy engineering, bioengineering, environmental engineering, and energy engineering. engineering.

• The strength of the interdisciplinary degrees stems from The strength of the interdisciplinary degrees stems from • supervision by at least two faculty members of different departments supervision by at least two faculty members of different departments • multiple disciplinary approaches and facilitiesmultiple disciplinary approaches and facilities..

Izmir Institute of Technology Has Launched an Innovation Izmir Institute of Technology Has Launched an Innovation and Technology Transfer Centerand Technology Transfer Center..

The objectives of the technology transfer office areThe objectives of the technology transfer office are::• to transfer knowledge and inventions for the benefit of the to transfer knowledge and inventions for the benefit of the society, through licensing of intellectual property of the society, through licensing of intellectual property of the university facultyuniversity faculty• to diversify and increase private industrial funding and support to diversify and increase private industrial funding and support of faculty research.of faculty research.

TThe services that will be offered by thehe services that will be offered by the university university innovation and technology transfer office are:innovation and technology transfer office are:

• to evaluate research results for their commercialization potentialto evaluate research results for their commercialization potential• to help faculty develop start-up companiesto help faculty develop start-up companies• to assist with patent applications to assist with patent applications • to negotiate licensing arrangements with corporationsto negotiate licensing arrangements with corporations• to administer the existing license agreements to ensure royalty to administer the existing license agreements to ensure royalty

payments to the university and facultypayments to the university and faculty

TThe he Izmir IIzmir Institutenstitute of Tecchnology of Tecchnology incorporates incorporates::

Biotechnology and Bioengineering Research CentreBiotechnology and Bioengineering Research Centre Computer Application and Research CentreComputer Application and Research Centre Environmental Research and Development CentreEnvironmental Research and Development Centre Geothermal Energy Research CentreGeothermal Energy Research Centre Materials Research Centre, Materials Research Centre, Wireless Communication and Multimedia Research Centre,Wireless Communication and Multimedia Research Centre,

TThe Izmir Technology Development Zone with its he Izmir Technology Development Zone with its 672 acres 672 acres of land incorporating three office of land incorporating three office buildings. Currently, a total of 21 private companies buildings. Currently, a total of 21 private companies information technologies and software 13; information technologies and software 13; electrical, electronics and mechanical 3; electrical, electronics and mechanical 3; industrial design 1; industrial design 1; energy 1; energy 1; advanced materials, thin film coatings 1; advanced materials, thin film coatings 1; biotechnology and biomaterials 1; biotechnology and biomaterials 1; ceramic industries 1ceramic industries 1..

Izmir Institute of TechnologyIzmir Institute of Technology

Examples of innovative work at IYTEExamples of innovative work at IYTE::

• Plant source antioxidants Plant source antioxidants

• Anti-cancer drugsAnti-cancer drugs

• Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) robotsrobots

ConclusionConclusion The generation of new knowledge through research and the transmission of The generation of new knowledge through research and the transmission of

existing knowledge in education are two essential elements of a productive existing knowledge in education are two essential elements of a productive and innovative society and innovative society

Engineering students should develop analysis, integration, synthesis Engineering students should develop analysis, integration, synthesis capabilities and creativitycapabilities and creativity

Graduates should know how to learnGraduates should know how to learn Innovation requires interdisciplinary teamwork, therefore graduates should be Innovation requires interdisciplinary teamwork, therefore graduates should be

comfortable with itcomfortable with it Broad definitions of disciplinary boundaries and interdisciplinary research Broad definitions of disciplinary boundaries and interdisciplinary research

centers seems to be the proper modelcenters seems to be the proper model For effective interdisciplinary research structural and administrative barriers For effective interdisciplinary research structural and administrative barriers

between departments-institutions need to be removedbetween departments-institutions need to be removed Universities should try harder to facilitate the commercialization of researchUniversities should try harder to facilitate the commercialization of research