YTU Monthly - June, 2026
Research, Innovation and Campus Life at Yildiz Technical University (YTU)
Featured Research Projects
Yildiz Technical University continues to strengthen its international research and innovation ecosystem through interdisciplinary collaborations, sustainability-oriented initiatives, and European-funded projects in emerging technology and circular economy fields. By actively participating in strategic international partnerships such as TECHSIGHT and ECO-SPHERE, the university contributes to the development of innovative solutions addressing global challenges related to deep technologies, digital transformation, sustainability, and circular economy.
TECHSIGHT is an international initiative coordinated by YTU in collaboration with four European higher education institutions and supported by the Horizon Europe programme and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) under the EIT HEI Initiative. The project focuses on strengthening the innovation capacity of universities in deep technology fields such as artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and green technologies by integrating strategic foresight and horizon scanning methodologies into education, research, and entrepreneurship activities.
At the core of TECHSIGHT is an Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship Methodology that enables universities to identify emerging technological trends and adapt their curricula and innovation strategies accordingly. Through its three interconnected platforms — EduSPHERE, CollabSPHERE, and ImpactSPHERE — the project creates sustainable ecosystems that connect students, academics, industry representatives, entrepreneurs, and policymakers. These platforms support capacity building, foster deep-tech innovation regions, and ensure the long-term dissemination and sustainability of project outcomes.
Over its 25-month implementation period, TECHSIGHT aims to train more than 1,250 students and 340 staff members, establish six deep technology innovation regions across Europe, support technology-oriented start-ups, and develop more than 20 new curricula incorporating foresight methodologies. The project also seeks to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry through new partnerships and joint innovation activities.
Aligned with the priorities of EIT Digital, EIT Manufacturing, and EIT Climate-KIC, TECHSIGHT contributes to building a more sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven deep technology ecosystem in Europe.
Building on YTU’s commitment to sustainability and international research excellence, the ECO-SPHERE programme further expands the university’s contribution to addressing global environmental and societal challenges through circular economy research and interdisciplinary innovation. ECO-SPHERE – Circular Economy for the Sustainable Earth Spheres: Geosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere & Atmosphere is a prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND programme dedicated to advancing circular economy and sustainable product design. Coordinated in part by Yildiz Technical University, it offers 24 postdoctoral fellowships of 24 months across key sustainability research areas, including eco-design, energy, water and wastewater management, material recovery, climate policy, business models, and waste management.
ECO-SPHERE aims to strengthen Europe’s expert capacity in circular economy research while supporting the European Green Deal, the UN SDGs, and the Paris Agreement. The programme targets resource- and energy-intensive sectors such as electronics, automotive, plastics, construction, food, water, and energy. With a human-centric perspective, it promotes solutions that integrate People, Planet, and Profit, empowering consumers and cities to benefit from circular transformation.
Patents & Technology Transfer
From sustainable energy systems to next-generation biomedical applications, Yildiz Technical University continues to transform scientific knowledge into innovative technologies with real-world impact. Through its growing patent portfolio and technology transfer activities, the university supports the commercialization of research outcomes while contributing to environmentally responsible and human-centered technological development. Every year, millions of lithium-ion batteries reach the end of their useful life, leaving behind a chemically complex and environmentally hazardous material known as black mass — the dark, metal-rich powder obtained after mechanical disassembly of spent cells. Rather than treating black mass as a liability, researchers Burak Birol, Metin Gençten, and Sezgin Yaşa at YTU have developed a patented hydrometallurgical process that transforms it into high-value industrial materials.
The granted patent (TR 2023/001826) recovers cobalt from spent LiCoO₂ cathodes through a carefully controlled leaching process using sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide solutions. By precisely tuning temperature, pH, and reagent ratios, cobalt is selectively dissolved and subsequently precipitated as cobalt sulfide — a chemically stable compound with broad applications in energy storage electrodes, nanotechnology, optical systems, sensors, and solar panels. Crucially, this approach recycles a material that poses serious risks to human health and the environment when improperly disposed of, turning industrial waste into a strategic resource.
Building on this foundation, the research group is currently pursuing a patent application for an advanced process targeting NMC (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt) batteries — the dominant chemistry in electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage. This ongoing work aims to recover nickel, manganese, cobalt, and lithium from black mass and resynthesize them directly into new NMC cathode material, as demonstrated by coin cells and pouch cells already assembled from recycled materials at laboratory scale.
Taken together, these efforts place YTU at the forefront of battery circular economy research, turning end-of-life cells back into the building blocks of tomorrow’s energy systems.
Alongside its sustainability-focused innovations, YTU is also pioneering cutting-edge healthcare technologies that integrate advanced manufacturing, biomaterials, and personalized treatment approaches. By combining engineering expertise with biomedical research, the university continues to develop innovative solutions aimed at improving patient outcomes and minimally invasive healthcare practices. The patented invention titled “Production of Microneedles for Transdermal Drug Delivery by Dynamic Light Processing” developed under the direction of Prof. Dr. Cem Bülent Üstündağ at YTU, introduces a high-precision, mold-free DLP 3D printing platform for biodegradable hydrogel microneedle patches. Originating from the TymPatch project, the technology enables personalized GelMA/KerMA-based patches designed for the non-surgical treatment of acute and chronic eardrum perforations.
Loaded with therapeutic agents via electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA), the biofunctional and biodegradable patch integrates seamlessly with the tympanic membrane, eliminating the need for a secondary surgical intervention. This minimally invasive and scalable innovation represents a significant step forward in personalized medicine and targeted drug delivery.
International Events & Conferences
Strengthening its global academic presence, Yildiz Technical University continues to contribute to international scientific dialogue through conferences that bring together researchers, educators, and professionals from diverse disciplines. The following events reflect YTU’s growing role in interdisciplinary research, innovation, and higher education transformation.
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 Yildiz 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. Extended abstract submissions are open until June 5, 2026.
While CLC2026 highlights interdisciplinary perspectives on natural systems, design, and scientific innovation, YTU also contributes to international discussions on the future of higher education through the 2026 YÖKAK International Conference on Quality Assurance and Accreditation. Hosted by Yildiz Technical University and organized by the Turkish Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK), the 2026 YÖKAK International Conference on Quality Assurance and Accreditation will bring together academics, quality assurance experts, policymakers, and higher education stakeholders from around the world on 14–15 September 2026 in Istanbul.
Held under the theme “Quality Assurance Systems and Artificial Intelligence in the Digital Transformation Era,” the conference will explore the evolving role of quality assurance in higher education through the lens of artificial intelligence, digitalization, and data-driven governance. Key topics include AI-supported quality policies, digital quality assurance platforms, learning analytics, performance monitoring systems, international accreditation processes, micro-credentials, and lifelong learning.
The conference aims to strengthen quality culture in higher education, promote the exchange of innovative practices, and foster international collaboration among institutions and experts. It will also provide a platform for discussing emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of higher education quality assurance.
With distinguished international speakers and participants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, the event is expected to serve as a significant forum for knowledge sharing and global engagement in quality assurance and accreditation.
