Applications have opened for the 11th Science and Ideas Festival (BFF), which will be organized this year for high school students under the theme “Başımıza İcat Çıkar” by Üsküdar University, in cooperation with the Provincial Directorates of National Education in Istanbul, Bursa, Sakarya, Kocaeli, and Yalova. The deadline for project submissions has been set as March 13, 2026, while the award ceremony will take place on May 15, 2026.
Science and Ideas Festival Coordinator Prof. Türker Tekin Ergüzel stated: “The Science and Ideas Festival offers students an early R&D experience where they can transform their scientific curiosity into tangible outcomes.”
Organized annually by Üsküdar University with the participation of Provincial Directorates of National Education in Istanbul, Bursa, Sakarya, Kocaeli, and Yalova, the Science and Ideas Festival continues in its 11th year to encourage high school students to develop innovative, research based, and solution-oriented projects.
A strategic educational initiative
Vice Rector of Üsküdar University and Festival Coordinator Türker Tekin Ergüzel emphasized that the Science and Ideas Festival is not merely a competition. He noted that it is a strategic educational initiative designed to introduce young people to scientific thinking, project development, and entrepreneurship at an early age.
Project based education reaches the high school level
Explaining the motivation behind the festival, Prof. Ergüzel said: “The founding purpose of the festival is to educate high school students not only as individuals who access information, but as young people who recognize problems around them, question, produce solutions, and transform ideas into projects. This approach represents the extension of Üsküdar University’s project-based education philosophy to the high school level.
The Science and Ideas Festival provides an early R&D experience where students can turn their scientific curiosity into concrete outputs. During this process, students learn to define problems, develop appropriate methods, express their findings in academic language, and present them before a jury. Supported by poster and oral presentation stages, this structure serves as a preliminary application of university level research and project processes at the high school level. Thus, students are better prepared for the academic and research culture they will encounter at university.”
Turning ideas into sustainable and socially beneficial projects
Prof. Ergüzel underlined that one of the festival’s main goals is to ensure that ideas do not remain theoretical but evolve into innovative, sustainable projects that create social benefit. “Evaluating projects based on impact and sustainability criteria is a natural result of Üsküdar University’s entrepreneurship and innovation focused approach. In this respect, the Science and Ideas Festival is designed as a strategic educational platform that supports future researchers, entrepreneurs, and scientists at an early age and aims to make project culture permanent.”
From rote learning to practical skills and innovative thinking
Highlighting the importance of moving beyond rote learning, Prof. Ergüzel continued: “In today’s world, where practical skills and innovative thinking replace memorization-based education, initiatives like the Science and Ideas Festival have become a critical launchpad for the next generation of leaders and inventors. This festival offers high school students a unique development environment where they can put theory into practice, showcase their creativity, and acquire future competencies today. It invites students to move from being passive recipients of knowledge to active producers of ideas and project developers. The core motivation behind the festival is to raise young people who can question intellectually, think creatively, generate original ideas, and transform those ideas into concrete projects. The aim is not only individual success, but also the development of essential social skills such as collaborative thinking, sharing, and uniting around common goals.”
What does participation in the festival offer?
Prof. Ergüzel emphasized that the Science and Ideas Festival offers much more than a competition: “Students who participate experience defining a problem based on their own ideas, developing scientific and innovative solutions, and transforming these ideas into tangible projects. This process strengthens analytical thinking, research skills, and solution-oriented approaches, while preparing students for university level projects and R&D studies.
The festival represents far more than a contest. It is a carefully designed experience that supports students’ personal and academic development. Participation goes beyond winning an award and means gaining valuable skills that can shape a student’s future career.”
A multidimensional gain for young inventors
Concluding his remarks, Prof. Ergüzel stated: “The Science and Ideas Festival enables participants to experience every stage, from the emergence of an idea to its transformation into a project and presentation in an academic setting. Students work knowing that their projects will be evaluated based on professional criteria such as originality, methodology, impact, and sustainability.
This approach strengthens research, analytical thinking, problem definition, and solution development skills, while also naturally fostering competencies such as resource management, planning, and effective presentation, all of which are critical for university life and professional careers.”
Patent and scholarship support for the top three projects
Stating that the festival supports young people’s efforts and innovative ideas not only academically but also through tangible rewards, Türker Tekin Ergüzel continued as follows:
“Cash prizes will be awarded to the projects and advisor teachers ranked in the top five across all categories, while students who place will gain significant career opportunities.
Students ranked in the top three will be entitled to a 75 percent tuition scholarship if they list specific programs of Üsküdar University among their top five preferences and enroll in one of them. This scholarship provides strong support for students at the beginning of their higher education journey. In addition, the patent and career support offered to the top three projects enables students to protect their ideas, receive guidance throughout the patent process, and transform their projects into tangible products. Projects ranked from sixth to tenth will receive honorable mention awards under the titles ‘Good Idea,’ ‘Original Method,’ and ‘Sustainable Project.’”
Who can apply, how, and where?
Emphasizing that the application process has been designed to be accessible to all high school students, Prof. Ergüzel stated: “The festival is open to preparatory class, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students enrolled in all public and private schools affiliated with the Turkish Ministry of National Education, as well as students from Science and Art Centers (BİLSEM) and Research, Development, Education and Practice Centers (ARGEM). Projects are accepted in three main categories: Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Health Sciences. Individual applications are not accepted; all submissions must be made through advisor teachers. All procedures, including the project application form, are carried out online via the official website www.bilimvefikirfestivali.com. Each project may include a maximum of four students, and each student may participate with only one project.”
Prof. Ergüzel also noted that projects which have previously received awards in other peer reviewed competitions such as TÜBİTAK or Teknofest are not eligible to apply: “Students present their projects not to just any jury, but to a scientific board composed of Üsküdar University academics and expert teachers appointed by the Ministry of National Education. This experience serves as a direct rehearsal of defending ideas in an academic environment, receiving constructive feedback, and engaging in professional communication.”
Every great invention begins with a small curiosity
Addressing young participants, Prof. Ergüzel made the following call: “Every great invention begins with a small curiosity. That idea you ask, ‘Could this work?’ may turn into a project that shapes your future. The Science and Ideas Festival is an invitation to take that first step. Trust yourself and your idea.”
Within the scope of the festival, awarded projects receive cash prizes, advisor teachers receive incentives, and students ranked in the top three are granted a 75 percent tuition scholarship and patent support. Honorable mentions, participation certificates, and Üsküdar University Library Cards are also among the incentives offered.
Total prize pool of 600,000 TL
For the 11th Science and Ideas Festival organized by Üsküdar University, the deadline for project submissions is March 13, 2026, and the award ceremony will be held on May 15, 2026. A total of 600,000 TL in cash prizes will be distributed across all categories.