The Centers Coordination Office, operating under the Research Coordination Office, provides the services presented below.
Our Centers Coordination Office:
1) Coordinates the establishment and activities of Application and Research Centers affiliated with the Rectorate, and follows up on the processes under Law No. 6550,
2) Manages the application, follow-up, and coordination of investment program projects supported by the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, Directorate of Strategy and Budget,
3) Carries out the Researcher Training Program for the Defense Industry (SAYP) within the scope of University–Industry Cooperation,
4) Conducts the follow-up and coordination of the LABS portal (Laboratory and Research Infrastructure Information System) established by the Ministry of Industry and Technology.
Application and Research Centers
General Information
At our University, the Application and Research Centers operate under the Rectorate, and there are 31 in total. The country’s first joint Application and Research Center—“Gazi University, Ankara University and Middle East Technical University Joint Center of Excellence for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (established through the cooperation of Ankara University and Middle East Technical University)”—is not included in this figure since the coordinating institution is Gazi University.
Establishment Procedures
For the establishment of Application and Research Centers at universities, you can access the documents and forms requested by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) via the link below. In addition to completing the headings and annexes in the document, a draft regulation must also be prepared. After the documents are completed, the University’s proposal is first submitted to the Senate; if the Senate decision is positive, it is submitted to YÖK. Following YÖK’s approval, the Center Regulation is forwarded to the Presidency to be published in the Official Gazette.
Movable Asset Registration Procedures
You can access detailed information about the movable asset registration procedures that must be carried out throughout the year at Application and Research Centers via the link below.
Promotional Booklet
You can access the booklet we prepared in 2016, when we celebrated the 60th anniversary of our University, to introduce our Application and Research Centers.
Investment Program Technological Research Projects
The Investment Program enters into force after being announced no later than 15 days following the enactment of the central government budget law each year. In line with the policies and priorities set out in the Development Plan, the Medium-Term Program, and the Presidential Annual Program, the Investment Program publicly announces information on approved projects such as location, characteristics, start and end dates, appropriation details, and project type.
Preparations for our University’s investment project proposals are coordinated by the Strategy Department, and the budget proposal is prepared by sub-sectors. The Office of Research Coordination is responsible for the “Technological Research” section of our University’s budget proposal. After the Investment Program is published, expenditures are carried out through the BAP Coordination Unit.
New Project Proposals
New Technological Research Projects are submitted via the Office of Research Coordination in response to calls announced by the Directorate of Strategy and Budget (SBB), on the topics and timelines determined by SBB. In addition, although rarely, new project proposals may be submitted to SBB in cases where a project is deemed a priority.
Budget Proposals for Ongoing Projects
For each ongoing project in the technological research sector, the “Information Form for Ongoing Technological Research Sector Projects” included in “Investment Program Preparation Guide Annex-8 for the ………… Period” is completed. Each year, according to the schedule determined by the Directorate of Strategy and Budget (SBB)—usually in early June—the relevant form is shared by the Office of Research Coordination with the project coordinators of projects included in the Investment Program and they are requested to complete it. The form, completed based on actual needs, is submitted to SBB and serves as the basis for the budget meeting held at SBB.
You can access our University’s technological research projects supported for 2025 here (in Turkish).
SAYP Program
The Researcher Training Program for the Defense Industry (SAYP) is a SSB-supported researcher training program initiated by METU to structure guided projects so that graduate thesis studies—either to be carried out or currently being carried out—by students (“Researchers”) who are employed or not employed in companies operating in the defense industry and who are also enrolled in graduate programs at METU, are conducted in line with the medium- and long-term R&D strategies of the companies and within the priority areas determined by the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB). For this purpose, METU and the Presidency of Defence Industries have signed memoranda of understanding with ASELSAN, TUSAŞ (TAI), ROKETSAN, HAVELSAN, FNSS, MilSOFT, and NUROL. To date, 35 projects have been carried out at our University within the scope of the program, which has since been expanded by SSB to many defense industry companies and universities.
LABS Information System
The Laboratory and Research Infrastructure Information System (LABS) is an inventory system established by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, which records test, calibration, and research service providers’ information—including tests, equipment, samples, personnel, and general details—for laboratories, centers, and research infrastructures needed by industry. Advanced research laboratories, thematic research laboratories, central research laboratories, and other institutional laboratories that host qualified human resources and modern technology-based machinery/equipment, hardware, and software where R&D activities are carried out are included in the system within higher education and public institutions. In this context, 52 laboratories from our University are registered in the system.
Laboratories at our University that are solely for educational purposes, do not qualify as research infrastructure, do not have the capacity to conduct R&D activities, and cannot collaborate with industry are not included in the system.
Keeping the LABS portal up to date and completing data entries by the end of April each year is the responsibility of laboratory managers. You may contact us regarding adding a laboratory to the system, removing it, or changes in laboratory and data entry responsible persons.
