Abstract The expanding discourse surrounding the prominence of research universities in Turkey's higher education system has identified these institutions as pivotal drivers of economic and societal growth. Establishing and sustaining research universities presents unique challenges, though their influence on knowledge creation, innovation, and regional development is indisputable. The transformation of Dokuz Eylül University into a research university in 2023 exemplifies the evolving landscape of higher education in Turkey. This paper offers a comprehensive exploration into the formation, obstacles, and optimization of research universities, with a specific focus on Dokuz Eylül University's strategic development roadmap and comparative analysis. The analysis reveals opportunities for enhancement in areas such as scientific and technological research competence, intellectual property pool, interaction and collaboration, and economic and societal contribution. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of harnessing strategic collaborations between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and research universities to boost global competitiveness and technological innovation. Through this investigation, informed policy decisions can be made to strengthen Turkey's burgeoning research university system in pursuit of sustainable socioeconomic development. Keywords: research universities, higher education, innovation, entrepreneurship, intellectual property rights