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Turkish inventor Ergün Kırlıkovalı, who made the F-35 and B-2 aircraft invisible, met with our students and faculty members at the “From Idea to Product: Discover the Entrepreneur Within” event. Kırlıkovalı shared his experiences and outlined the fundamental steps of innovation. 

Ergün Kırlıkovalı, a polymer scientist who has developed a coating material that reduces the radar visibility of aircraft such as the F-35 and B-2, shared his entrepreneurial experiences with our students and faculty members at the Otağ-ı Hümayun on the YTÜ Davutpaşa Campus. The event, titled “From Idea to Product: Discover the Entrepreneur Within,” was attended by our Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Güleda Engin, the Vice Chair of the Yıldız Technopark Board of Directors and our Rector’s Chief Advisor Prof. Dr. Özer Çınar, YTÜ Yıldız Technopark Deputy General Manager Prof. Dr. Cengiz Kaya, along with our faculty members and students.

Prof. Dr. Cengiz Kaya: “Without an idea, the infrastructure isn’t much use”

Speaking at the opening of the program, YTÜ Yıldız Technopark Deputy General Manager Prof. Dr. Cengiz Kaya noted that materials science brings together disciplines such as physics, mathematics, and chemistry to form the foundation for technological advancements. Noting that Kırlıkovalı’s work in the field of polymers demonstrates how scientific knowledge can be transferred to technology and industry, Kaya highlighted the role of the university and technology park ecosystem in supporting new ideas.

A Turning Point in His Career: Competing in the Same Tender as Billion-Dollar Companies

Ergün Kırlıkovalı described the process of transforming a scientific idea into a high-tech product using examples from his own career. Emphasizing that young people possess untapped potential waiting to be discovered, Kırlıkovalı said that in 1988, they were invited to a bidding process in Palmdale, California, involving leading companies in the aerospace and defense industries.

Kırlıkovalı explained that being in the same meeting as representatives of major companies initially made him feel inadequate, but when he heard the specifications for the required material, he realized he could apply the knowledge he had gained during his education. Explaining that there was a need for a material that would reduce radar visibility, be as hard as steel, and yet flexible, Kırlıkovalı said he believed the polymer elasticity he had learned about at the University of Manchester could provide a solution to this need.

“This is the opportunity I’ve been looking for”

“This is the opportunity I’ve been looking for,” said Kırlıkovalı, noting that he threw himself into the work. He added that during a roughly six-month R&D and testing process, they developed five different formulas, one of which yielded the desired result. He noted that this work laid the foundation for a long-term business relationship that began with the company then operating under the name Northrop and continued with Northrop Grumman.

Kırlıkovalı explained that he followed the lectures on the elasticity of polymers with great interest and asked his professor detailed questions after class, adding that this accumulated knowledge turned into a commercial opportunity when it met a real need. He noted that the use of the materials they developed in the aerospace industry and his company’s subsequent involvement in the F-35 program were among the results of this approach. Kırlıkovalı emphasized that his experience taught him that what matters most is having the knowledge and preparedness to solve a problem, rather than the scale of the competition.

“There is no prosperity without added value”

Noting that innovation is rooted in creating added value, Kırlıkovalı said that as young people plan their careers, they should consider not only the organizations they want to work for but also the problems they want to solve and the legacy they want to leave behind. He encouraged participants to ask themselves where they see themselves in 10 years, in which areas they want to make a difference, and what problems they can develop solutions for.

“There is no prosperity without added value. If you’re just doing what everyone else is doing, don’t look for prosperity there,” said Kırlıkovalı, explaining the relationship between creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. He noted that creativity begins with generating an idea, and innovation makes it possible to transform that idea into a product people will want to buy. He added that entrepreneurship completes the process by enabling the product to gain economic value, emphasizing the importance of transforming scientific research into practical and marketable solutions.

A solution he developed for the U.S. Navy

Defining the first step of innovation as observation, Kırlıkovalı said that problems people find bothersome in their daily lives but eventually get used to can create opportunities for new products. He illustrated this approach with an incident he experienced in 1991 at the U.S. Navy’s Long Beach Shipyard.

Explaining that he noticed a turbine on the USS Antietam producing excessive vibration and noise, Kırlıkovalı noted that during his discussions, he learned the turbine’s protective casing had been damaged. Kırlıkovalı explained that since the part was not sold separately, replacing the entire turbine was being considered; he noted that the repair could be done for a few thousand dollars, while replacing the turbine would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Kırlıkovalı noted that after obtaining permission to develop a solution, he took measurements and spoke with the ship’s crew, observing that although the crew was bothered by the noise, they had grown accustomed to the situation. He noted that he personally oversaw the first application of the polymer repair kit he developed, and after successful results were achieved, the method was incorporated into the Pentagon’s specifications. Kırlıkovalı said, “If I hadn’t made that observation that day and had just walked away, this line of work would never have been established.”

“If necessity is the mother of invention, then curiosity is its father”

Noting that curiosity is the second step in innovation, Kırlıkovalı emphasized the importance of questioning the causes of problems and approaching unsolved issues from different angles. Noting that scientific curiosity is just as influential as need in the emergence of inventions, Kırlıkovalı used the example of the telescope to explain the role of humanity’s desire to understand the universe in technological advancements.

“If need is the mother of invention, then curiosity is its father,” said Kırlıkovalı, citing the example of a chemist working at a DuPont laboratory who, by continuing to investigate an unexpected experimental result, paved the way for the development of Kevlar. Noting that this material—which offers high strength relative to its weight—is used in many fields, from protective vests to helmets and aviation applications, Kırlıkovalı emphasized that researchers must investigate the causes of unexpected results when they encounter them.

Solutions in nature inspire technology

Kırlıkovalı noted that structures and mechanisms found in nature serve as a source of inspiration for technological development, citing Japan’s high-speed trains as an example. Kırlıkovalı explained that an engineer redesigned the front section of a train, drawing inspiration from the beak of a kingfisher, which splashes very little water when diving into water. Noting that a feature found in nature can provide a solution to an engineering problem, Kırlıkovalı also mentioned research conducted on the camouflage abilities of cuttlefish. He explained that the interaction of microscopic structures in these creatures’ skin with light has inspired the development of materials designed to reduce visibility.

Think about different possibilities using the “contrasts” method

Noting that stepping outside conventional ways of thinking is necessary to develop new ideas, Kırlıkovalı described the “system of contrasts,” which he defined as one of the methods he developed. He said that approaching a problem from opposing extremes can reveal different possible solutions.

Kırlıkovalı noted that considering the outcomes that might arise if a product were designed to be very large or very small, very fast or very slow, opens the door to new ideas. He pointed out that even if most options prove unworkable, the remaining possibilities could serve as the starting point for a solution. He emphasized the importance of an environment that allows for uninterrupted focus and prevents distractions during these efforts.

Set Short-, Medium-, and Long-Term Goals

Stating that planning is just as essential as technical work in turning an idea into a product, Kırlıkovalı advised young entrepreneurs to set short-, medium-, and long-term goals. His sample plan included researching existing information on the subject in the short term, developing a working model or prototype in the medium term, and moving to mass production in the long term. Noting that timelines may vary depending on circumstances, Kırlıkovalı highlighted the importance of measurable goals and a roadmap to achieve them.

Prof. Dr. Güleda Engin: The More You Love What You Do, the More Successful You Will Be

Speaking at the closing of the event, YTÜ Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Güleda Engin thanked Kırlıkovalı for sharing his scientific expertise and life experiences with our students. Engin emphasized the importance of passion for a job, dedicating time to it, and focusing one’s attention on the goal in achieving success.

Noting that there are more than 750 companies and approximately 15,000 R&D employees within YTÜ Yıldız Technopark, Engin said that the R&D centers within walking distance of the campus offer a significant advantage for students. Recalling entrepreneurship initiatives such as the Yıldız Explorers program and YTÜ Startup House, Engin invited students who wish to develop their ideas, put them into practice, and connect with companies to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the technology park.

Engin asked Kırlıkova to mentor students working on materials-related projects under the Yıldız Explorers Program. Kırlıkova replied, “We are more than happy to put our resources to use for our students.”

Discussions with Cambridge Judge Business School regarding the entrepreneurship program

YTÜ Rector’s Chief Advisor Prof. Dr. Özer Çınar noted that YTÜ Yıldız Technopark is working on international partnerships to support the commercialization of startups. Çınar said they have begun discussions with Cambridge Judge Business School, part of the University of Cambridge, to develop a program focused on commercializing ideas.

Çınar explained that, once the financial terms are finalized, they aim to create a program specifically for YTÜ Yıldız Technopark, adding that following the evaluation process, approximately 10–15 companies are expected to be selected for the program. Emphasizing the importance of properly guiding startups from the earliest stages of research and development, Çınar asked Kırlıkovalı to provide mentorship support to students applying to the Yıldız Explorers program, particularly those in the materials field.

During the event’s question-and-answer session, our faculty members and students posed questions to Kırlıkovalı regarding topics they were curious about in the fields of science, technology, and entrepreneurship. At the conclusion of the program, our Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Güleda Engin, our Rector’s Chief Advisor Prof. Dr. Özer Çınar, and our Deputy General Manager of YTÜ Yıldız Technopark Prof. Dr. Cengiz Kaya presented Kırlıkovalı with a commemorative gift.

Kırlıkovalı is known for his work on polymer materials designed to reduce the radar visibility of B-2 and F-35 aircraft. Throughout his career, which combines material development, testing, and production processes with entrepreneurship, he has focused on transforming scientific knowledge into products that find practical applications in industry. In his lectures at universities, he shares these experiences with students, addressing creative thinking, innovation, and commercialization processes.

In addition to his professional work, Kırlıkovalı has been actively involved in civil society activities within the Turkish-American community; he served as president of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) from 2011 to 2013. He serves on the Board of Directors of ETAC-USA and on the International Advisory Board of Istanbul Atlas University.