Over 500 Elite Researchers Recruited to Turkish Universities via EK-46 Program

The Council of Higher Education (YÖK), in its latest report published today, July 11, 2026, announced the significant success of the "EK-46" program in attracting scientific elites. According to this report, more than 500 highly qualified researchers holding doctorates from the world's most prestigious universities and leading industrial centers have so far begun working at Turkish universities [1]. This initiative, part of the reforms to Article 46 of the Higher Education Law, allows universities to utilize the expertise of domestic and foreign researchers on a part-time basis.

Strategic Objectives and Structure of the EK-46 Program The EK-46 program is designed to bridge the gap between industry and academia. These regulations allow researchers active in Research and Development (R&D) centers, private sector laboratories, or international universities to transfer their knowledge to Turkish academic environments [2]. Researchers recruited under this scheme, in addition to teaching at the graduate level, are responsible for supervising theses and participating in strategic scientific projects. This approach not only facilitates the transfer of technical knowledge but also improves the international ranking of Turkish universities.

Focus on Priority Areas and Emerging Technologies According to YÖK, the primary focus of this recruitment is on fields designated as priorities in the "Twelfth Development Plan of Turkey." These areas include artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy, and defense technologies [3]. Erol Özvar, President of the Council of Higher Education, emphasized that the presence of these 500 researchers marks a turning point in project-oriented science production and the commercialization of academic research. Many of these researchers have joined the program from prestigious institutions such as Microsoft, Oxford University, and the University of Tokyo [1].

Long-term Impacts on the Higher Education System The implementation of this program reflects the "Century of Turkey" vision in higher education, focusing on quality, productivity, and excellence. By integrating these researchers into the Higher Education Information System (YÖKSİS), all scientific outputs and published articles by them are registered in the name of the host universities, which directly has a positive impact on the country's research indicators [2]. It is expected that as this trend continues, the number of researchers will increase in the coming years, and Turkey's international collaborations will expand globally.