The Ottoman Empire lost its superiority in the field of science since the 12th century and the decline in the science and technology was reflected through the continuous defeats in the military field since the 18th century. In the last quarter of the 18th century, the deficiency in the fields of science and technology was perceived and the schools of engineering, schools of artilleryman and military schools of medicine were opened. In this period, instructors were brought to the schools from the west and some students were sent to the west for education. Robert College that provided education in English language was opened in the year of 1863 and Galatasaray Lycee that provided education in French language was founded in the year of 1868. "Darülfünun-u Şahane" that was the first imperial university was opened in the year of 1900. This institution that was composed of the departments of Theology, Positive Sciences, Mathematics, Literature, Law and Medicine was restructured with the assistance of German academicians after the year of 1908. A university and seven educational institutions were handed down by the Ottoman Empire to Republic of Turkey that was founded in the year of 1923. Several new schools and universities have been opened in the Republican period. Turkey that inherited this postponement from the Ottoman Empire has tried to cover this gap and it still endeavours great efforts to catch up with the change of the Modern Age.
The first university reform was performed through the contribution of the German scientists that had run away from Nazi Germany and come to Turkey in the tenth year of the Republic (1933). The purpose of this reform that was enforced with the law numbered 2252 has been the development of the studies in relation with the education, training, science and researches in a contemporary and modern level. This law has been considered as the beginning point of the modern scientific education and scientific researches in Turkey. Within this framework, Darulfunun was closed and it was turned into Istanbul University. This development was followed by the foundation of the other universities and numerous Research and Development Institutions (R&D) most of which operated in the fields of agriculture and forestry. The other foundations were the Directorate of Refik Saydam Health Centre founded in the year of 1928, the Sugar Institute founded in the year of 1932 and the General Directorate of Mineral Examination and Prospecting and the Electrical Works and Examination Directorate founded in the year of 1935.
On the verge of the transition to the planned period in the years of 1960, the most important development in the field of science and researches was the foundation of Turkeys Scientific and Technical Researches Institution (TUBITAK) in the year of 1963. Ankara and Çekmece Nuclear Research and Education Centres that were connected to Turkey Atomic Energy Commission was among the important R&D institutions that were founded in the years of 1960s.
New arrangements were performed in the fields of science and research in the years of 1980s. The first arrangement was the issuance of law on Higher Education Board (YOK) that stipulated the restructuring of the universities in the year of 1981. Higher Board of Science and Technology that was connected to the Prime Ministry was established in the year of 1983 and this constituted an important step in respect of the determination, orientation and coordination of R&D policies. Higher Board of Science and Technology is the policy-determining organ of the highest level within the system of Turkish science and technologies. This board is composed of the relevant ministers and the representatives of the corresponding institutions under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister. The principal duties of the Higher Board are the assistance to be provided for the governments in the determination of the long-term policies of science and technology, the determination of R&D targets, the specification of the primary R&D fields of high priority, and the assignation of the public R&D institutions in accordance with the R&D plans and programs.
The foundations of Turkish Academy of Sciences (TUBA) and the Turkish Patents Institute in the year of 1993 are considered among the important developments that were observed in the years of 1990. TUBA is an institution connected to the Prime Ministry with a legal entity that has a scientific, administrative and financial autonomy. This institution was founded with the purpose of the assistance for the development of the standards of scientific researches in Turkey on an international level. This institution that has had great services in respect of the development of scientific researches carries out some studies for the orientation of the young persons towards the scientific and technological issues and it rewards those who have taken pains with these studies in these fields. Some important legal arrangements have been issued about the protection of the intellectual property rights in the year of 1995. Similarly, decrees with the force of law were enforced about the protection of the patent rights, industrial designs, geographical signs and trademarks.
In the same year, a decree was issued that stipulated the state assistance and credit for the R&D projects that are carried out by the industrial institutions. As per this law that entitled extensive opportunities for the industrial institutions that operate in the R&D activities, nearly 50% of the R&D expenditures may be covered by the state as a gratis and the industrial institution may receive a financial aid for the rest amount of 50% for the R&D expenditures. In case that the industrial institution succeeds in putting the finished products to the market, this institution may refund this amount over its actual value.