Applications are ongoing for the 11th Science and Idea Festival (BFF), organized this year by Üsküdar University. The festival, held under the theme “Start an invention!” is organized for high school students in cooperation with the Provincial Directorates of National Education of Istanbul, Bursa, Kocaeli, Sakarya, and Yalova.
The deadline for project applications is March 13, 2026.
Festival Coordinator Prof. Türker Tekin Ergüzel: “The Science and Idea Festival invites students to move from being passive recipients of information to active idea producers and project developers.”
Applications are ongoing for the 11th Science and Idea Festival (BFF), organized this year by Üsküdar University.
The festival, held under the theme “Start an invention!” which draws attention within the scope of 8-14 March Science and Technology Week, is organized for high school students in cooperation with the Provincial Directorates of National Education of Istanbul, Bursa, Kocaeli, Sakarya, and Yalova.
The deadline for project applications is March 13, 2026.
Within the scope of the festival, the award ceremony for which will be held on May 15, 2026, a total of 600 thousand TL in prize money will be awarded in all categories.
Strong interest in applications!
This year, strong interest is observed in applications for the festival. According to current data, over 400 project applications have been made to the festival. While most of the applications come from Istanbul, the participation of students from different provinces and high school types also draws attention.
When applications from Istanbul, Bursa, Kocaeli, Sakarya, and Yalova are evaluated on a category basis, Science and Technology ranks first, Social Sciences second, and Health Sciences third. As the application process is ongoing, the number of projects is expected to increase further in the coming days.
Meanwhile, the intense interest from students of various high school types and the active participation of Science and Art Centers (BİLSEM) show that the festival continues to be an important platform encouraging scientific production.
One of the festival's main goals is for the ideas generated not to remain merely theoretical
Üsküdar University Vice Rector and Science and Idea Festival Coordinator Prof. Türker Tekin Ergüzel emphasized that the Science and Idea Festival is not just a competition, but a strategic educational initiative that enables young people to encounter scientific thinking, project production, and an entrepreneurial culture at an early age.
Stating that one of the festival's main goals is for the ideas generated not to remain merely theoretical, Prof. Ergüzel said, “The Science and Idea Festival offers high school students an important development area where they can transform theoretical knowledge into practice, unleash their creativity, and acquire future competencies today. This platform invites students to move from being passive recipients of information to active idea producers and project developers.”
Who can participate?
Preparatory, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade students studying in official and private high schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education throughout Türkiye, as well as students from Science and Art Centers (BİLSEM) and ARGEM, can participate in the festival.
Projects are accepted in three main categories: Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Health Sciences. Applications are not made individually but through advisor teachers.
The application process and project uploads are carried out online via the festival's official website, www.bilimvefikirfestivali.com.
In the festival, where applications will continue until March 13, 2026, the winning projects will be announced at the award ceremony to be held on May 15, 2026. Within the scope of the festival, young inventors will be supported with cash prizes, as well as scholarships, patent support, and various incentives.
