A total of 1,214 participants from Turkey made applications for project proposals between December 2002 and April 2004 and the EU Commission decided to fund those submitted by 128 participants. These two figures rose to 2,455 and 370, respectively, as of March 2006 and the general success ratio has reached the 15% level.

Contributions to Universal Science. Turkey has attained a respectable level in science and Turkish scientists have made substantial contributions to universal science.

Gazi Yaşargil was chosen “the man of the century” for post-1950 decades by the American Associations of Neurosurgeons and he also received the 2005 Award of Honor of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Feza Gürsoy, who is internationally-known for his theoretical work in physics and Cahit Arf, who developed a mathematical theory named after him, are just a few of the prominent Turkish men of science.

Some of the other successful Turkish scientists who received important awards both at home and abroad are Cavit Erginsoy (physics), Cemal Eringen (mechanics), Dilhan Eryurt (astrophysics), Sırrı Erinç (geography), Celal Şengör (geology), Münci Kalayoğlu (medicine), Gündüz İkeda (mathematics), Bahattin Baysal (chemistry), Semahat Geldiay (zoology), Ekrem Akurgal (archeology), Metin And (cultural history) and Halil İnalcık (history).