The Role of Patents in Shaping Turkish University Rankings: National and International Perspectives
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: This article examines the relationship between patent activity and university rankings in Turkey, encompassing both national evaluation frameworks and major international ranking systems. Drawing on data from the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (Türk Patent), the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), TÜBİTAK's Entrepreneurship and Innovation Index (GİE), and global rankings including Times Higher Education (THE), QS World University Rankings, and SCImago, we investigate how intellectual property outputs are associated with institutional standing. Our analysis demonstrates that patent generation — spanning application volumes, granted patents, international filings, and commercialization activity — is positively associated with ranking performance, particularly in innovation-weighted frameworks. We acknowledge the endogeneity inherent in this relationship: higher-ranked universities attract the resources and talent that facilitate greater patent output, making causal direction a complex empirical question. The article identifies persistent structural challenges — low commercialization rates, regional disparities, disciplinary imbalances, and foreign-exchange cost barriers for international filings — and concludes with six Turkey-specific policy recommendations, including a foundational proposal for mandatory patent commercialization data reporting infrastructure. JEL Codes: I23 · O34 · O38 · L31 · H52
Source: Research Square
Authors: Mohammed Sayim Khalil, Büşra ŞAHİN
Institution: Haliç University
Language: English
Subfield: Management of Technology and Innovation
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7204587289