Sabri Ülker Foundation Strengthens International Scientific Collaborations with İstanbul Science Summit 2026

Sabri Ülker Food Research Institute Foundation, organized in collaboration with The Nutrition Society, brought global knowledge and experience on children's healthy development together with the scientific world at İstanbul Science Summit 2026. At the summit, which brought together scientists from various countries including Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the USA, Japan, Norway, and Pakistan in İstanbul, key issues affecting children's health were addressed in light of international research and the experiences of different countries.

Aiming to develop its nearly 20 years of scientific knowledge accumulation in the fields of food, nutrition, and health through international collaborations, Sabri Ülker Foundation continued its efforts to transform scientific knowledge into societal benefit with İstanbul Science Summit 2026.

The summit was also attended by Binali Yıldırım, the last Prime Minister of the Republic of Türkiye, 28th Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) and Member of the Presidential High Advisory Board, Deputy Minister of Health Şuayip Birinci, Deputy Minister of Trade Mahmut Gürcan, and Yıldız Holding Board Member Murat Ülker. Chief Advisor to the President İsrafil Kışla and Deputy President of Türkiye Health Institutes Murat Sargın also took part in the summit.

Yahya Ülker: "The Real Value of Scientific Knowledge Emerges Through the Contribution It Makes to Children's Lives"

Yahya Ülker, Chairman of Sabri Ülker Food Research Institute Foundation, who delivered the opening speech of the summit, drew attention to the guiding role of scientific evidence for children's healthy future and the importance of scientific knowledge finding its counterpart in daily life.

Emphasizing the importance of developing international scientific dialogue and bringing together the accumulated knowledge produced in different countries on a common ground, Yahya Ülker said the following:

"As Sabri Ülker Food Research Institute Foundation, in line with our global vision, we attach importance to being part of and contributing to the development of international scientific dialogue on issues that concern the entire world, such as children's right to nutrition and healthy development. We find it valuable that international experts came together and delivered common messages for children's healthy development at İstanbul Science Summit 2026, which we organized with the aim of bringing together knowledge and experience produced in different parts of the world on a common ground. The real value of scientific knowledge emerges through the contribution it makes to children's lives. For this reason, we must support the use of scientific knowledge for the benefit of children, families, and societies, and we must all contribute together to transforming knowledge into concrete solutions."

A New Step in the Foundation's International Vision

Emphasizing the importance of children's access to adequate and balanced nutrition, an environment that supports their healthy development, and reliable information, Yahya Ülker stated that the foundation aims to carry this approach to a wider scope through international collaborations.

Noting that children's healthy nutrition is a shared responsibility on a global scale, Ülker stated that scientists, international organizations, educators, and decision-makers need to act in line with common goals.

Ülker continued his remarks as follows:

"Children's healthy nutrition is the world's shared responsibility, and this responsibility places on all of us the duty to act together. To this end, we must bring together scientists, international organizations, educators, and decision-makers around the same goal, share scientific knowledge produced in different parts of the world, translate the results of research into practice, and work together for solutions that will support the healthy development of every child. With our belief in the power of science that transcends borders, we are making a call to the world from İstanbul Science Summit 2026: Let us transform our scientific knowledge and experience into joint steps for the healthy future of children. We hope that this call rising from İstanbul will strengthen international collaborations and contribute to transforming knowledge into concrete solutions."

Scientific Perspectives for the Healthy Future of Children

İstanbul Science Summit 2026, which lasted two days, brought together academics, public health experts, and nutrition researchers from different countries. At the summit, many topics directly concerning children's healthy development were evaluated with the participation of experts from universities and international organizations.

The first 1000 days of life, breastfeeding, maternal and child health, school meals, nutrition education, food insecurity, the fight against obesity, and nutrition in emergency situations were among the prominent topics of the summit.

The summit, where different scientific perspectives were shared through plenary sessions, thematic symposiums, panels, and oral research presentations, will conclude with the events on October 20. In addition to journalists, the event, which was attended by numerous scientists from Türkiye and abroad, was also followed by Yıldız Holding Chairman of the Board Mehmet Tütüncü and Board Members İbrahim Taşkın and Uğur Demirel.