National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM) director, chair of the Materials Science and Nanotechnology Graduate Program and faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and the Department of Physics, Prof. Hilmi Volkan Demir, was recently honored with the National Innovation Award under the Special Awards category of the YÖK Excellence Awards.
The National Innovation Award, granted without an application process and based on the evaluation of a jury appointed by YÖK, was presented to Prof. Demir in recognition of his pioneering work and contributions in scientific research, innovation and the development and translation of advanced technologies into real-life applications and societal impact. Prof. Demir conducts scientific research in nanoscience and nanotechnology, with a focus on areas including nanocrystal optoelectronics, semiconductor nanomaterials and devices, optoelectronic devices and sensors, wireless RF sensors and implantable electronics. He has authored more than 400 research articles published in internationally peer-reviewed scientific journals. More than 150 of these publications have appeared in Nature Index journals, while over 100 have been published in journals with an impact factor of 10 or higher. With his work receiving tens of thousands of citations, Prof. Demir also stands out for his contributions to translating scientific research into innovative technologies and economic value. As the principal inventor, he holds more than 80 national and international patents covering over 60 inventions. Twelve of these inventions have been licensed or transferred into commercialization through spin-off companies. Prof. Demir has made significant contributions, through collaborative R&D and innovation projects with industry, to the development of more than 10 end products, from the initial concept stage through advanced technology development and commercialization in Türkiye and abroad. Prof. Demir was also honored with the TÜBİTAK Science Award in 2020 and the International Special Honor Award of the Turkish Physical Society in 2021. Prof. Demir received the award from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the opening ceremony of the 2026–27 Higher Education Academic Year. The event was held at the Presidency on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
