Graduated from Boğaziçi University in 1971 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Received his M.Sc. (1972) and Ph.D. (1976) in Chemical Engineering from The University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Began his academic career in 1977 as a research assistant at Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Chemistry, and was promoted to Associate Professor in 1981 and to Full Professor in 1988.
Held various academic and administrative positions at Istanbul Technical University, including Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Founding Head of the Department of Food Engineering, Dean of the Faculty of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, and Vice Rector. Also served at TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center as Head of the Chemical Engineering Department, Chairman of the Board, and Member of the TÜBİTAK Science Board.
Memberships include the Institute of Energy (UK), the Turkish National Committee on Solid Waste, and the Turkish National Committee on Air Pollution. Completed numerous applied projects in the fields of coal, petroleum, petcoke, oil shale, combustion, and air pollution control technologies, developing technological solutions for the energy and cement industries.
Prof. Dr. Ekrem Ekinci served as Rector of Işık University between 2008 and 2010. Since 2011, he has been serving as the founding partner and Chairman of the Board of Directors of of T Dinamik Enerji Industry and Trade Inc. and Tegnatia Enerji Production Industry and Trade Inc.