Foundation for Sciences and Arts was founded in 1986. Three years later, a series of seminars in social and natural sciences and scholarships, all of which have continued until the present day, were initiated in line with its mission. In seminars, academics, artists, and writers, known to be specialists in their own fields, have participated in creating a free environment in which Turkish youth is encouraged to reflect on the existing paradigms of knowledge in a systematic fashion. After moving to its central building complex located in Vefa, Istanbul in 2001, seminars and research programs attained a more systematic structure attracting several thousand students every year.

The most important factor influencing the rise of social systems is the production and organization of knowledge. BISAV is a research and educational institution that tries, on the one hand, to understand main dynamics of contemporary world and, on the other hand, to contribute to finding the 'roots' of the Turkish society in order to build a sound future upon these roots. What lies beneath the current crises of not only Turkey but also all non-Western societies is the failure to create an 'intellectual tradition'. BISAV is thus focused on transcending the psychological and intellectual barriers that make it difficult to overcome this problem.

"Mustafa has published over a dozen books on global competition, strategic leadership, and economics. He is also the chairman of the prestigious educational NGO, Bilim ve Sanat Vakfi (Foundation for Sciences and Arts). He currently teaches at Istanbul Fatih University. Mustafa graduated from the Economics Dept of Boaziçi University, Istanbul, in 1980. While working for financial/ industrial firms throughout 1980s and 90s, he continued his graduate studies at Marmara University, and completed his Ph D study in economic history in 1999."