ISTANBUL BILGI UNIVERSITESI

Their core work

Istanbul Bilgi University is a Turkish private university with strong social sciences research, focused on migration studies, political radicalization, cultural identity, and EU-Turkey relations. Their teams study how populism, Islamophobia, and nativism interact across European and Turkish societies, and they examine how migrants integrate into rural and urban communities. They also maintain a research line in theatre and performance studies, exploring how national identity is constructed and contested through cultural production in Turkey and its diasporas.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their earlier H2020 work (2016–2018), Bilgi focused on European cultural heritage (CoHERE) and EU-Turkey political relations (FEUTURE) — broad, exploratory topics. From 2019 onward, their research sharpened significantly toward migration, radicalization, and populism, culminating in the large ERC-funded ISLAM-OPHOB-ISM project they coordinate. The recent portfolio shows a clear pivot toward applied migration policy, de-radicalization methods, and the intersection of identity politics with security.

Bilgi is deepening its specialization in radicalization and migration research, increasingly incorporating AI and spatial analysis tools — making them a strong partner for security-adjacent social science projects.

How they like to work

Bilgi operates overwhelmingly as a consortium partner (6 of 7 projects), contributing social science expertise to large, multi-country research actions. Their single coordinator role — the EUR 2.3M ERC Advanced Grant ISLAM-OPHOB-ISM — shows they can lead ambitious research when the topic aligns with their core strength. With 76 unique partners across 27 countries, they are well-networked and comfortable in diverse, international consortia.

Bilgi has collaborated with 76 distinct partners across 27 countries, giving them one of the broader networks for a Turkish university in social sciences H2020 research. Their partnerships span Western and Eastern Europe, reflecting the migration and identity topics that naturally require cross-regional perspectives.

What sets them apart

Bilgi occupies a rare position as a Turkish university deeply embedded in European research on migration, identity, and radicalization — topics where a Turkey-based perspective is not just useful but essential. Their ability to study Islamophobia, populism, and diaspora communities from both inside Turkey and within European frameworks makes them a distinctive bridge partner. The ERC Advanced Grant demonstrates that their research leadership in this niche is recognized at the highest level of European funding.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ISLAM-OPHOB-ISM
  Their only coordinated project and an ERC Advanced Grant worth EUR 2.3M — the largest single grant in their portfolio by a wide margin, signaling top-tier research recognition.
• D.Rad
  Combines AI and spatial analysis with de-radicalization research, representing an unusual intersection of technology and social sciences.
• MATILDE
  Addresses the under-studied topic of migration impact in rural and mountain regions, expanding the typical urban-focused migration research.