Dr. Çağlar has served as the General Manager of Ostim Teknopark in Türkiye since 2015, overseeing its establishment and management to enhance the region’s competitiveness as a science and technology hub.
Under her leadership at Ostim Teknopark, key initiatives include the PROTA Technology Manufacturing Center, incubation and acceleration programs, and OSTIM INP, Ankara’s first accredited angel investment platform. She also contributes to venture capital investment decisions and evaluates national innovation funding programs.
Dr. Çağlar has extensive experience building strategic partnerships and advancing science and technology ecosystems nationally, regionally, and internationally. She serves on the Executive Committee of the Southeast Europe Science and Technology Parks Alliance, fostering cross-border collaboration. She served as a Vice president and Board Member of the Technology Development Zones Association (TGBD) for seven years. She also supports aligning policies with the UN Sustainable Development Goals through UNESCO and serves as a member of the Intergovernmental Council of the Management of Social Transformations (MOST).
Her academic background includes degrees in City and Regional Planning from METU and a Ph.D. in Forestry and Natural Resources from Purdue University, specializing in Decision Analysis.
Before her current role, she was an Assistant Professor at California State University, Fresno (2008-2010), where she secured NSF funding for urban water management research. She also held strategic roles at the Ankara Development Agency, focusing on regional planning and investment promotion.
Her career is characterized by her strategic vision, interdisciplinary expertise, and dedication to fostering innovation and sustainable development. She is noted as ready to assume the role of IASP European Division President to strengthen collaboration.