The establishment of The Scientific and Technical* Research Council of Turkey by the special law numbered 278 published in July 24, 1963 in the Official Gazette has been the most important example of scientific research and development efforts in our country. "Doing and motivating basic and applied research on exact sciences, encouraging to work in these areas and founding of institutes in this aim" was mentioned in the first paragraph of the 2nd article of the mentioned law, and this statement has been the first serious step for the establishment of the Marmara Research Center. Although that day's knowledge, experience and facilities did not permit an immediate founding of an industrial research institute, the Science Board and the General Secretariat of TUBITAK decided to give a start for the feasibility study for founding.

* "Technological" is Technical since July 2005.

1966-1971

Within two years following the beginning of preparations, a "Research Institute Report" that focused on the prospective institute in terms of aim, target, organization and development as a whole, was completed; and a proposal to constitute a "Central Research Institute" operating on basic and applied science fields mentioned below and determined one by one in the area of industrial needs was submitted for the review and decision of the TUBITAK Science Board.

Industrial Research Areas

Basic Sciences

During this process, priorities regarding the Institute's frame to focus on disciplines in the area of applied sciences were rather emphasized. In this sense, a "Research Institute Investment Project" was prepared by the General Secretariat and after its approval by the Science Board; it was presented to the State Planning Organization and was accepted.

First, in 1965, Operational Research Unit started its activities in ODTU (the Middle East Technical University - METU). Then, to establish various institutional research units without awaiting the completion of their infrastructure and meanwhile to carry on their activities as guests in external organizations and universities were accepted in principle. During this stage;

During this process, priorities regarding the Institute's frame to focus on disciplines in the area of applied sciences were rather emphasized. In this sense, a "Research Institute Investment Project" was prepared by the General Secretariat and after its approval by the Science Board, it was presented to the State Planning Organization and was accepted.

First, in 1965, Operational Research Unit started its activities in ODTU (the Middle East Technical University - METU). Then, to establish various institutional research units without awaiting the completion of their infrastructure and meanwhile to carry on their activities as guests in external organisations and universities were accepted in principle. During this stage;

were founded respectively.

1972-...

The studies following the decision of founding Marmara Research Institute in Gebze were completed in 1972 and the institute started its activities in the foreseen fields. Since 1973, the meetings with public and private sector institutions concluded in protocols of new research projects especially taken from public ones. Towards the end of 1975, "Settling Phase" of the institute has been completed and by 1976, "Development Phase" has been started. In the following years, in addition to the UNIDO support projects, other projects supported within the NATO-SfS (Science for Stability) Program increased the liveliness in the Institute and between 1982 and 1984 considerable changes occurred in the number and value of contracted projects. By the end of 1991, a process of change has started in TUBITAK Marmara Research Centre (MRC).

In this process of transformation, TUBITAK MRC adopted industrial research and development in principle as its main strategy and studies. For this goal to be achieved, total quality management concept such as customer's satisfaction, quality, productivity and employee satisfaction has started.

In parallel to this progress, by the constitution of Central Management Board in 1995, TUBITAK MRC achieved a status of more dynamic and half autonomous organization.
In 2003, in the symposium on "Effective Human Resources Management in Public Organizations", TUBITAK MRC has been rewarded with a SUCCESS AWARD by KALDER Award Committee.

Organization outline was the most changing fact within years. The structure of the organization was continuously reviewed and modernized in the scope of day's circumstances and requirements. As time went by, some MRC research units such as Electronics Research Department, National Metrology Institute and Research Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, which were expanded enough in terms of staff and business volume, were reorganized as separate institutes directly reporting to TUBITAK headquarter in Ankara.

At July 1 2006, TUBITAK Scientific Committee decided once again to incorporate the Research Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology administratively to the main body of institutions of Marmara Research Centre.

According to the new organization chart decided at December 23 2008, TUBITAK Scientific Committee Chemical and Environmental Institute were formed as Chemical Institute and Environment Institute separately, applied since 01.01.2009.

Lately, it has been decided that Information Technologies Institute has been moved from the organization chart of MAM and has been accreted into UEKAE’s chart. Thus Marmara Research Center has become an organization consisting of 7 institutes. The institutes in TUBITAK MAM are listed below:

 

 

• CHEMISTRY INSTITUTE (CI)
• EARTH AND MARINE SCIENCES INSTITUTE (EMSI)
• ENERGY INSTITUTE (EI)
• ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE (EI)
• FOOD INSTITUTE (FI)
• GENETIC ENGINEERING & BIOTECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE (GEBI)
• MATERIALS INSTITUTE (MI)