ITU in the Top 60 Worldwide with Interdisciplinary Scientific Studies!

ITU ranked 60th globally in THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026 in association with Schmidt Science Fellows. ITU’s responsible approach, which leads to the development of science and technology through an interdisciplinary perspective and collaboration, contributed to its ranking success.

Istanbul Technical University (ITU) continues to make a name for itself worldwide with its vision as a “Responsibility- and Impact-Oriented Research University.” According to the results of THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings (ISR) 2026, prepared in association with Schmidt Science Fellows, our university ranked 60th among 911 universities worldwide. ITU rose 16 places compared to the previous year in the world rankings and was once again first among public universities in Türkiye.

Being among the top 60 universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026 highlights the interdisciplinary nature of the research conducted by our university’s academics and students. At ITU, studies that yield successful results through interdisciplinary approaches are noteworthy, not only in engineering but also across a broad spectrum, from music to archaeology.

Istanbul Technical University (ITU) has recently implemented various practices and projects within its structure that strengthen the interdisciplinary research culture and encourage human resources to engage in multidisciplinary work.

Thematic campus collaborations, application and research centers, and laboratories bringing different disciplines together

In line with the goal of developing by learning from each other, thematic collaborations are materialized through an innovative approach in the On-Campus Co-Achievement Laboratory established at ITU. Laboratories, application and research centers established in partnership with leading organizations in their fields of expertise play a role in supporting ITU’s interdisciplinary research approach. Some of the laboratories and centers that have stood out with their interdisciplinary research environments in the past year are:

Innovative collaboration models have been implemented with many organizations, including ASELSAN, TUSAŞ, MKE, BTS Group, ComPro, Kendal Elektrik, Odine, TUA, and Türkiye İş Bank.

The Space Support Systems Application and Research Center ( UZDES) was established at ITU in cooperation with TUA, aiming to build a “Command Control” infrastructure to manage the entirety of space missions within the framework of the National Space Program, and undertaking a strategic function by focusing on “Support Systems” such as energy, space weather, communication, navigation, and artificial intelligence.

The ITU - Türkiye İş Bank Marmara Active Fault Hazard and Risk Application and Research Center ( MATAM) (https://matam.itu.edu.tr/en), described as “Türkiye’s Apollo Project,” has begun, through its interdisciplinary structure, to produce the necessary data for earthquake studies more rapidly.

The ITU-BTS Digital Twin Application and Research Center (ITU-BTS DIAM) ( https://bts-diam.itu.edu.tr/) conducts studies in parallel with our country’s digital and green transformation goals in areas such as Digital Twin technologies, 5G/6G, smart cities, sustainable energy, and aviation.

R&D and technology development studies for underwater/surface systems are conducted at the Electronics and Embedded Systems Research and Development Center (EGEM).

ITU and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA) established the “ International Joint Research Laboratory” to create mechanisms to strengthen interdisciplinary knowledge sharing and co-production culture.

The Digital Factories and Transformation Laboratory provides direct access to the advanced computer systems of TUSAŞ. It is a critical resource for academic and industrial studies.

The ITU Nanotechnology Application and Research Center (ITU Nano) develops sustainable high-technology solutions across deep technologies with an interdisciplinary approach, focusing on “Functional Nanomaterials.” ITU Nano also undertook scientific and technical coordination within the scope of the collaboration protocol signed with Kendal Elektrik, which constitutes a historical threshold in domestic LED chip production.

The Mine Optimization and Planning Research Center (MOPAM) aims to generate knowledge and guide the sector at both national and international levels with an interdisciplinary structure. Establishment efforts for the Center are ongoing.

A protocol was signed to establish the ASELSAN – ITU Underwater, Surface, and Autonomy Technologies Laboratory and the RF-Microwave Innovative Material Technologies Laboratory on our Ayazağa Campus within the scope of ASELABS.

Cooperation protocols have been implemented for the development of AI-based next-generation management systems and services, and for the establishment of a Private 5G network on our Ayazağa Campus within the scope of the “Domestic and National Private 5G Project.”

Nuclear energy, especially fusion studies, requires quantum computers for the necessary calculations. In this context, significant developments have taken place at ITU in both quantum and nuclear technologies. A protocol was signed with Q&Co Quantum Computing Technology and ComPro Information Technologies to establish a laboratory infrastructure and a specialized research center for quantum systems on our Ayazağa Campus, where the goal of developing a competitive quantum processor prototype and producing the first domestic quantum processor by 2030 is materialized. This will enable the development of a commercial quantum computing service starting from the hardware level.

ITU, with a nuclear technology vision that reflects a multi-actor and multidisciplinary system understanding, has assumed academic leadership of the Nuclear Technology Development Park, implemented in line with Türkiye’s 2030 Industry and Technology Strategy Document.

Two new thematic institutes for ITU

The Zero Waste Institute, aimed to be an international scientific attraction center as one of the country’s first academic structures in the field of environment, and the Institute of Engineering and Technology History, which differs from similar organizations researching the history of science with its unique focus, were established at ITU. With these two institutes, the number of thematic institutes at ITU has risen to seven. The other institutes that contribute to and develop the interdisciplinary research ecosystem at our university are the Disaster Management Institute, the Eurasian Institute of Earth Sciences, the Informatics Institute, the Energy Institute, and the Aviation Institute.

Innovative Minor Programs providing multi-faceted competencies to students

The Innovative Minor Programs, launched in seven different areas at ITU, offer students an interdisciplinary perspective. Human resources capable of anticipating and solving future problems gain multi-faceted competencies through innovative courses and programs that will meet tomorrow’s needs. (Sustainability, Nuclear Engineering, Defense Technologies, Oceanography, Fire Engineering, Information Applications and Computational Sciences, Earth Systems and Global Change).

The EELISA Communities within the EELISA European University, of which ITU is a founding partner, encourage our students and faculty members to participate in interdisciplinary studies. The EELISA Alliance also provides researchers with the opportunity to secure support through joint calls aimed at establishing multi-partner and interdisciplinary collaborations. EELISA events, such as competitions and summer schools, enhance students’ multidisciplinary competencies.

Throughout the past year, numerous events at ITU, such as the “Responsibility- and Impact-Oriented Research University: Developing Our Future Together Meeting,” “TÜBİTAK 1001 and 3501 Project Preparation Workshops,” “Graduate Student Day,” Stars League: Erasmus+ Central Projects Meeting,” “Evaluation and Future Outlook Meetings,” “Co-Learning Lab,” “CoCirculation 3 Supervisor Informative Meeting,” and “AI-Enabled Computational Material Technologies Workshop,” have encouraged interdisciplinary work among our students and academics.

Students from different disciplines working and producing together

Our student project teams (https://ogrencifaaliyetleri.itu.edu.tr/homepage) that achieve rankings in national and international competitions, such as TEKNOFEST, with projects and designs developed by students from different disciplines working together, can access increased financial support through the BAP Undergraduate Student Participation Research Project-T (LÖKAP-T).

The Student Club-Team District, which opened its doors on our Ayazağa Campus, and the National Technology Workshop, currently under construction with TÜBİTAK support, contribute to our students’ interdisciplinary studies.

In our E-Mobility and Autonomous Vehicles Laboratory, which uses our Ayazağa Campus as a “Living Laboratory” for autonomous vehicles, undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students from different US universities work together with ITU students during the summer period, with support from the US National Science Foundation.

Elmalı Field School, which focuses on ITU’s Hacımusalar Mound research, provides experience to undergraduate and graduate students from diverse disciplines in Türkiye and around the world. Although our university does not have an undergraduate archaeology program, it achieves a very successful position in the field of archaeology, both nationally and internationally, by providing archaeological data collected using interdisciplinary data collection protocols implemented in developed countries.

Greater interdisciplinary interaction through project support

The ITU Platform Project Program was launched to support high-quality multidisciplinary collaboration projects in scientific and technological terms and to position young researchers at the center of these projects. Thanks to the program, strengthened by university-industry-public collaborations, research processes are shaped by students’ active participation and an understanding focused on social impact. Furthermore, this Program was scaled up to the Technical Universities Union (TU11), whose Presidency is held by ITU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, resulting in the implementation of TU11 Collaboration Projects.

ITU-KÜRE (ITU Global Researcher Integrative Projects) was launched to support scientific projects with high impact potential. Our academics can work on projects funded under ITU-KÜRE together with international researchers who will work at our university within the scope of the TÜBİTAK 2232-A/B International Leading and Young Researchers Program.

ITU has signed off on important changes within the scope of BAP to encourage scientific studies, increase the widespread impact of project outputs, and carry out research processes more efficiently and effectively. Numerous Interdisciplinary Research Projects (DAP) are conducted under the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (BAP).

Interdisciplinary projects conducted with concrete output targets

Some recent interdisciplinary projects conducted and deemed worthy of support at ITU:

• The “AI-Supported Autonomous Material Microstructure Analysis Platform” Project aims to increase speed, accuracy, and scalability in microstructure analyses by combining artificial intelligence with materials science.
• The Central Laboratory Infrastructure Development Project, supported by the Presidency of Strategy and Budget.
• The MARAP Project which brings an interdisciplinary approach to disaster-related studies. (https://gis.itu.edu.tr/marap)
• The “IoT Supported Electronic Geotextiles for Sustainable and Smart Precision Agriculture (I-TEXGEO)” Project, which combines textile, electrical-electronics, mechanical, control, information technologies, communication systems, and agricultural sciences to offer innovative solutions that will revolutionize modern and smart agricultural applications.
• The “Multifaceted Performance Improvement in Multipurpose Research and Training Reactors through a 3D Digital Twin” Project, where a three-dimensional digital twin model of the ITU TRIGA MARK II Research Reactor will be developed.
• The “Microtonal Guitar with Changeable Keyboard” Project, which merges art, technology, and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Platforms as examples of interdisciplinary structures

Various platforms at ITU serve as examples of their interdisciplinary structures. The Environmentally Friendly and Sustainable Advanced Vehicle Technologies Platform (İLATERA) ( https://ilatera.itu.edu.tr/) is supported under the TÜBİTAK 1004 Center of Excellence Support Program. Established to be part of the innovative technological developments and the transformation experienced by the automotive industry, the platform has defined outputs across social, economic, and ecological themes, as well as high-tech readiness levels. The İLATERA ecosystem includes universities, private sector organizations, public research centers, and student project teams.

The Sustainable Aviation Platform ( https://turkiyesustainableaviation.com/en), in collaboration with ITU, Turkish Airlines, and Boeing Türkiye, aims to further advance the decarbonization journey and sustainability transformation of the Turkish aviation sector, facilitate collaborations for sustainable aviation, and develop joint projects with an interdisciplinary approach and cooperation. The platform aims to increase knowledge and awareness in this field through educational programs and social activities.

Methodology of the rankings

The methodology of THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings (ISR), which measures universities’ contributions and commitments to interdisciplinary science worldwide, covers three key areas, each representing a stage in the life cycle of research projects. Under these key areas, there are 11 calibrated performance indicators designed to evaluate institutions. These indicators are: inputs (interdisciplinary scientific research funding, industry funding); processes (measure of success, physical facilities, administrative support, promotion and tenure); and outputs (number and proportion of interdisciplinary scientific research publications, utility outside of discipline, quality of interdisciplinary scientific research, and reputation).

Only interdisciplinary studies in computer science, engineering, life sciences, and physical sciences were considered in THE ISR 2026. To be included in the ranking, universities must meet specific basic criteria, such as publishing at least 100 interdisciplinary research papers between 2020 and 2024 and submitting the necessary data for the THE World University Rankings (WUR).

The necessary data for the Interdisciplinary Science Rankings were obtained from the universities’ World University Rankings (THE WUR), bibliometric data from the Scopus database, and surveys collected from researchers. In this context, 174.9 million citations and 18.7 million research publications from Elsevier were evaluated.