YTU Monthly - April, 2026
Research, Innovation and Campus Life at Yildiz Technical University (YTU)
Featured Research Projects
Yıldız Technical University continues to expand its global research footprint through strategic international collaborations that address some of today’s most pressing technological and societal challenges. As a partner in the SADIT-MAR (Safe Digital Transformation in the Maritime Industry) initiative, supported by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, Yıldız Technical University contributes to advancing a safer, more resilient, and inclusive digital transformation in the maritime sector.
Through interdisciplinary research, international conferences, workshops, and training programmes, the network will address key challenges related to maritime safety, cyber resilience, autonomous systems, and digital risk management. Running from September 2025 to August 2027, the project aims to strengthen global collaboration and develop knowledge frameworks to support a safer, more resilient digital maritime ecosystem.
Extending this global engagement into the field of sustainable energy, Yıldız Technical University also takes a leading role in European research and innovation initiatives. The ECHO project “ Energy Communities Excellence Hubs: Catalyzing Energy Innovation Ecosystems” funded under Horizon Europe with a budget of approximately €5 million and coordinated by Yıldız Technical University, introduces a comprehensive approach to the energy transition by addressing not only technological challenges but also social, economic, and governance dimensions. The project aims to establish Excellence Hubs in Türkiye, Greece, and Portugal to strengthen energy communities and foster sustainable, inclusive, and scalable local energy ecosystems.
The project places strong emphasis on capacity building and stakeholder empowerment. Through targeted training programmes, workshops, and knowledge-sharing activities, ECHO equips municipalities, cooperatives, SMEs, and citizens with the skills and tools needed to actively participate in the energy transition, while also fostering a culture of collaboration and participatory governance.
ECHO-TR operates as a coordination and innovation platform addressing key challenges in Türkiye, including regulatory gaps, limited technical capacity, financial barriers, and low awareness. By combining evidence-based policymaking with bottom-up engagement and real-life pilot actions, ECHO-TR enables local actors to become active designers and beneficiaries of the energy transition.
Patents & Technology Transfer
Advancing from fundamental research to real-world applications, Yıldız Technical University continues to strengthen its impact through high-value patents and innovative technology transfer initiatives. By bridging cutting-edge science with industrial and societal needs, these developments not only contribute to global scientific progress but also pave the way for next-generation solutions across diverse fields—from photonics and advanced materials to nanomedicine and targeted therapeutics.
The invention titled “Electronically Controlled Dielectric Huygens Resonator Spatial Light Modulator” has been filed for patent registration in Turkey. This invention introduces an innovative device design that enables precise electronic control over the spatial properties of light.
At the core of the invention lie specially designed Huygens resonators made from dielectric materials. These resonators can simultaneously manipulate both the electric and magnetic components of light. Offering a more efficient, compact structure than conventional light modulators, this technology holds significant potential for applications in advanced imaging systems, optical communications, holography, and laser technologies.
Building on this advancement in light-based technologies, the next study reflects YTU’s work in nanotechnology, focusing on innovative approaches to cancer treatment. In the patented study titled “Photochemically Prepared Monodisperse Gold Nanoparticles as Doxorubicin Carrier and its Cytotoxicity on Leukemia Cancer Cells”, a novel thioxanthone derivative, 3,3′-disulfanediylbis(1-hydroxy-9H-thioxanthen-9-one) ([OH-TX-S-]2), was employed as an in situ photochemical reducing agent for the synthesis of monodisperse gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The successful formation of AuNPs was initially confirmed by the appearance of a characteristic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band at 535 nm, accompanied by a distinct pink coloration. The particle size distribution of the synthesized AuNPs was further analyzed by dynamic light scattering (DLS), yielding an average particle size of approximately 30 nm and a relatively narrow polydispersity index, consistent with the observed SPR band.
Following nanoparticle formation, the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOXO) was loaded onto the AuNPs at varying concentrations. The adsorption and release profiles of DOXO were quantitatively evaluated by fluorescence spectroscopy using a previously established calibration curve. The cytotoxic activity of DOXO-loaded AuNPs was investigated via MTT assays on HL-60 and K562 leukemia cell lines. The results demonstrated that treatment with 5 µL of DOXO-loaded AuNPs resulted in a significant reduction in cell viability, indicating the potential of this system as an effective drug-delivery platform.
International Events & Conferences
Yıldız Technical University continues to strengthen its international research presence by hosting and contributing to major global conferences across engineering, architecture, and interdisciplinary sciences. In 2026, the university will be involved in two prominent international events that bring together leading researchers and industry experts from around the world.
The 11th International Conference on Ships and Offshore Structures (ICSOS 2026) will be hosted by Yıldız Technical University in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 4–7 October 2026. The conference will bring together researchers and industry experts working on ships, offshore structures, and maritime technologies.
ICSOS 2026 will provide an international platform to discuss advances in ship design, offshore engineering, marine hydrodynamics, renewable energy technologies, and digital maritime systems, including artificial intelligence, digital twins, and autonomous vessels. Selected high-quality papers will be promoted to special issues of the Journal of Ships and Offshore Structures (Taylor & Francis) and the Seatific Journal, offering participants a fast-track publication opportunity.
In addition to hosting major conferences, Yıldız Technical University also contributes to leading international scientific events through academic collaboration and partnerships. The 16th Constructal Law Conference (CLC2026) will take place 12–15 October 2026 at the Paris-Malaquais School of Architecture – PSL University in Paris, France, in collaboration with Yıldız Technical University. The conference marks the 30th anniversary of Constructal Law, the scientific principle that explains how natural and human-made flow systems evolve to facilitate easier access to flows of energy, materials, and information.
Under the theme “Design in Nature: The Evolution of Designs”, the conference will bring together researchers and practitioners from diverse fields—including engineering, biology, architecture, urban planning, economics, and the arts—to explore the evolution of natural and designed systems. The event will highlight interdisciplinary perspectives on flow structures in nature, sustainable design, urban systems, energy and economic networks, and the relationship between science, technology, and culture.
