Leadership Change at Mersin University TTO

A leadership transition has taken place at the Mersin University Technology Transfer Office (TTO). Prof. Dr. Mehmet Tahir Alp, who previously held the position of Head of the TTO Academic Unit, handed over the role to Prof. Dr. Rükan Genç Altürk.

The ceremony was held in the office of Mersin University Rector Prof. Dr. Erol Yaşar. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Tahir Alp, a faculty member of the Faculty of Fisheries who handed over the position, highlighted the importance of university-industry collaboration. Stating that the Mersin Technology Transfer Office (TTO) serves as a critical bridge—transforming academic knowledge into added value on regional and national scales by establishing university-industry cooperation on an institutional foundation—Prof. Dr. M. Tahir Alp said, "In this context, TTO structures are of vital importance for all universities as strategic mechanisms that transform the research potential of higher education institutions into commercial innovation and R&D projects. For universities to become sustainable centers of attraction within the future global and competitive higher education ecosystem, it is essential that these offices—which enhance commercialization capabilities—align their activities fully with the institution's long-term strategic plans and adopt an innovation-oriented vision."

"We Will Continue to Benefit from Experience"

Prof. Dr. Rükan Genç Altürk, a faculty member of the Faculty of Engineering who assumed the role, expressed her gratitude to Mersin University Rector Prof. Dr. Erol Yaşar and Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Öztürk for the trust and support they have shown.  Genç Altürk also extended special thanks to Mehmet Tahir Alp for his efforts, the expertise he has cultivated, and his support for the new term, expressing the importance they place on continuing to work with him and benefiting from his experience in the period ahead.

Stating that they aim to further advance the TTO’s existing expertise and momentum in the new term, Faculty of Engineering academic Prof. Dr. Genç Altürk outlined their key priorities: increasing capacity for high-quality national and international projects, establishing robust research and collaboration networks, transforming university-industry interaction into concrete partnerships, and strengthening the processes that take research outputs through to intellectual property, commercialization, and societal benefit. Emphasizing the significant responsibility the TTO bears in line with Mersin University’s goal of becoming a research university, Prof. Dr. Genç Altürk noted that they would work to achieve these objectives in collaboration with the university administration, academics, the TTO team, and all stakeholders.