TUBITAK-MAM Research Center is a well established non–profit research center, with 750 research staff, and 300 employees (http://www.mam.gov.tr/english/index.html). TUBITAK-MAM, in Gebze, was founded in 1972 and at over nearly 8 sq Kms (2,000 Acres), it is the oldest and largest research organization in Turkey.

TUBITAK-MAM’s location in the industrial heart of the country is appropriate considering its aim to promote the competitiveness of Turkish industry through research and Technological development. TUBITAK-MAM’s mission is to carry out research on new materials, products, processes, methods and systems to address the needs of both institutions and industry. Scientific research and technological development activities at TUBITAK-MAM are conducted using the rich infrastructure of its 8 proficiently equipped research institutes: Materials Institute (ME), Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Institute (GEBI), Chemistry Institute, Information Technologies Institute, Environment Institute, Energy Institute, National Metrology Institute, The National Electronics and Cryptology Institute, and TUBITAKMAM Technology Free Zone (Tekseb) & Technopark are also located on the TUBITAK-MAM Campus.

80% of the projects conducted at TUBITAK-MAM are developed for the public sector and efforts are being made to increase the portion done for the private sector. TUBITAK-MAM believes that catching up with modern western communities will be possible by increasing national competitive power through continued refinement of Turkey’s industrial technology. TUBITAK-MAM also has a modern library and computer facilities with a private satellite Internet connection. Cahit Arf Library is a lending and research library which offers its readers automated services through an integrated computer systems and provides access to more than a collection of 500 000 items, 30 000 of journals, 100 data bases from USA and Europe (http://kutuphane.mam.gov.tr/).