Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

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The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Turkish: Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu - TÜBİTAK) is the main body responsible for organizing research and development activities on the national level in Turkey, with headquarters located in Ankara. It was established by President Cemal Gürsel and the bill 278 passed on July 24, 1963, with the primary advisory duty of providing guidance to the government's plans and policies in the new era of planned economy subsequent to the first 5-year development plan of the country. Cahit Arf who was appointed by Gursel as the founding director and whose leading foundation work was assisted by a group of scientists including Prof. Erdal İnönü ^[1] was subsequently named as the first chairman of the Council on December 26, 1963. The first Council's 10 members were professors Erdal İnönü, Ratip Berker, Hikmet Binark, Mecit Çağatay, Reşat Garan, Feza Gürsey, Orhan Işık, Mustafa İnan, Atıf Şengün and İhsan Topaloğlu. They nominated Professor Nimet Özdaş as the first secretary general of TÜBİTAK effective March 1, 1964.