Since 2020, Yıldız Technical University has been focusing on 21st-century initiatives and implementing relevant projects. As the first university in Turkey to receive the Zero Waste Certificate, the university has focused on projects like Barrier-Free University, Sustainable Campus, and Smart Campus, as well as activities for clean water and energy.
YTU has improved its reputation by offering scholarship opportunities and publication incentives to students and academicians and maintaining an encouraging and facilitating attitude to diversify projects in the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Office and improve thesis studies.
In December 2021, the Council of Higher Education declared YTU the fifth best research university in Turkey, and its Technopark, established in 2003, has won the most successful Technopark award in the last two years.
The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering was established in 1993. The Department of Mechanical Engineering was established in 1938-1939. The Department of Industrial Engineering was established in 1993. Lastly, the Department of Mechatronics Engineering was established in 2007 and started its educational activities in 2009.

The YTU activity will concentrate on using enhanced surfaces and nanofluids to investigate and optimize thermal and other features, including heat recovery applications, thermal comfort, and other heat transfer-related topics.
The research will also examine the effects of size in various applications and operational conditions.