Panel III - Regulatory Problems for the Implementation of Invention
Paper N3.6 - Chemical Education and Chemical Industry in Turkey
Ayhan Ulubelen, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Istanbul,
Member of Turkish Academy of Sciences, Turkey
Abstract: Chemistry was given as service lectures to Medical
and Engineering students during the 18th and 19th centuries (from
1714) in Turkey (Ottoman empire period). The School of Chemistry
was started with 3 students in 1918. Now in the year 2003 in 78
Universities about 50 Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Faculties
there are thousands of Chemistry students.
Turkish scholarly publications have increased continuously during
the last 23 years. In 1980 there were approximately 250 papers,
in the year 2002 this number became 9321 almost 38 times increase.
From the 45th place Turkey has elevated to 22 place according to
Science Citation Index.
Chemistry publications takes a high place in this number.
On the other hand Chemical industry has started in 1911 with the
opening a cement factory near Istanbul. The push for industrialization
came with the Turkish Republic founded in 1923. Since the private
sector had not enough capital and knowledge the State has founded
almost all basic industrial plants. After 1950's the private factories
started first slowly , later rather fast, almost in every field
. Turkey could be considered a pretty good industrialized country.
The Pharmaceutical plants were the first in chemical industry, now
paint, detergents, oil and its various preparations, plastic etc.
were included. But, one has admit that there was not much interaction
between the Industry and Academic world in the field of Chemistry.
