The creation of new products and production processes through innovation is possible with advanced technologies. In this context, R&D activities are needed while developing the production structure and methods currently used. The fact that countries have the power to produce a technology on their own and to export this technology positively affects economic growth. In the research, the effect of R&D activities carried out by universities in Turkey on economic growth was examined using ARDL approach and Granger causality test. The dataset includes 30 observations on an annual basis between 1990 and 2019. In the research, it was revealed that a 1% increase in R&D expenditures increased Turkey's GDP by 0.27%. In addition, bidirectional causality relationship was determined between R&D activities and GDP.