Izmir Institute of High Technology

Izmir Institute of High Technology Overview

Izmir Institute of Technology (IYTE), established in Izmir in 1992, is a state university that specializes in high-level research, education, production, publication, and consultancy in the field of technology. It is one of the 10 research universities in Turkey included in the research universities program announced by President Erdogan in 2017.

The institute was founded on July 11, 1992, as a result of a proposal submitted by Izmir Members of Parliament Işın Çelebi and Rıfat Serdaroğlu. It initially started its services in a building owned by Petkim in Basmane on October 10, 1992. To accommodate the educational units, an additional building owned by Turkish Petroleum was rented in Alsancak on October 31, 1995.

IYTE began its education with master's programs in "Computer Software" and "Urban Design" in the 1994-1995 academic year. Undergraduate programs were introduced in 1998-1999 academic year, and as of 2014, the institute offers education and research activities in 10 undergraduate, 25 master's, and 12 doctoral programs, including 6 interdisciplinary master's and 2 interdisciplinary doctoral programs.

In 1999, due to the increasing number of students, it became impractical to continue education in the Alsancak building, and all departments were relocated to the campus. By the end of 2000, the Rectorate also moved to the campus, and the building in Basmane was vacated. The Alsancak building was assigned as the Foreign Languages Department Preparatory School. In late 2006, the Foreign Languages Department also moved to the campus, consolidating all units of IYTE in a single campus.

Izmir Institute of Technology is located within the boundaries of the Gülbahçe Campus, which houses Izmir Technology Development Zone, the 4th technopark in Turkey, covering a main area of 218.4 hectares and an additional area of 6.4 hectares. The zone is managed by Izmir Technology Development Zone Joint Stock Company, which is a collaboration of 21 partners. Various companies in the field of research and development operate in the zone. In 2012, the institute established an Innovation Center with the support of Turkey's development agency. As of 2014, there are 117 businesses operating in the region.