TÜBİTAK met its visitors at TEKNOFEST 2025 with 12 tents on an area of approximately 9 thousand m².

TEKNOFEST 2025, Turkey's largest science and technology festival, was held at Istanbul Atatürk Airport between September 17-21.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, "This year, 565 thousand teams and 1 million 200 thousand competitors from 81 provinces and 96 countries participated in 64 different competitions at TEKNOFEST Istanbul. The moves of the Turkish defense industry are now the talk of the world. The gains we have achieved despite all embargoes are never a coincidence. We have only just begun to write our defense industry saga, and we will have more proud news in the coming period." Stating that young people are laying the stones of a great and strong Turkey with their magnificent works, President Erdoğan said, "The young raiders of our national technology move continue to be the source of pride of our nation. When we see young people like you, whose minds and horizons are open, whose curiosity and enthusiasm are alive, and who dazzle both with their personalities and the products they develop, we look to the future with more confidence."

Our Vice President Mr. Cevdet Yılmaz said, "TEKNOFEST has created a climate that has shaped the technology journey of our nation since 2018."

Minister of Industry and Technology Mr. Mehmet Fatih Kacır said, "The National Technology Move is a sign of the Turkish nation's re-emergence on the stage of history and our claim to lead humanity with justice. The National Technology Move is a revolution of self-confidence that shatters the narrow molds shaped for us. The National Technology Move is the name of the march of the Turkish nation, which has written epics on every page of history from Malazgirt to Çanakkale, to the summit in science and technology. This tremendous march is being realized with the vision of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who inspires us with his courage and determination." "We will carry our country to the horizon of the Turkish Century together. We will continue to stand by our young people with TEKNOFESTs, Deneyap Technology Workshops, science centers, science festivals, Sector on Campus Program, National Technology Academy, National Technology Workshops." Kacır said, "With projects such as Terminal Istanbul, the world's largest technology and entrepreneurship center rising at Atatürk Airport, which hosts TEKNOFEST, we will build the necessary infrastructure for research and innovation."

Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman of TEKNOFEST Board of Directors and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Technology Team Foundation of Turkey, said: "TEKNOFEST is not just a festival, TEKNOFEST is the strongest objection to the learned helplessness that has been going on for centuries. It is not preparing for the races of today's world, but for the races of tomorrow. It is the cry of a generation that not only consumes technology, but also designs it. It is our love to fly with our own wings under our own sky dome."

TÜBİTAK Completed TEKNOFEST 2025 with Record Participation

As TÜBİTAK, one of the largest participants of the festival, we hosted our visitors with 12 thematic tents on an area of approximately 9 thousand m².

TÜBİTAK stood out with its innovative projects, popular science publications, space and defense technologies, interactive workshops, exhibitions and science shows.

Bringing visitors of all ages together with the excitement of science, TÜBİTAK organized the most comprehensive participation in the history of TEKNOFEST this year. With activities ranging from space to biotechnology, from chip design to artificial intelligence, TÜBİTAK became one of the most remarkable addresses of the festival. We were proud to be one of the institutions that hosted the highest number of visitors at TEKNOFEST with hundreds of thousands of people.

Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, President of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation Rustem Minnikhanov, Slovenian Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Igor Papic, Indonesian Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Resident Representative in Turkey Monica Merino Domínguez, TEKNOFEST Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar, Baykar General Manager Haluk Bayraktar also visited TÜBİTAK tents and event areas. These names were accompanied by Prof. Dr. Orhan Aydın, President of TÜBİTAK. Throughout TEKNOFEST, our President Aydın met with both the competitors and science and technology enthusiasts of all ages and chatted with them one by one.

TUBITAK Activity Areas

Within the scope of TEKNOFEST 2025, TÜBİTAK took its place in a wide range with TÜBİTAK Event Tent, BIGG Tent, Science High School Tent, Marmara Technopolis Tent, Science Centers and Beyond the Horizon Exhibition Tent, Degree Tent, TÜBİTAK Store and Bookstore and various competition tents.

Event Tent Participants

Visitors had the opportunity to meet with the units representing TÜBİTAK's research and development ecosystem. TUBITAK's centers, institutes and support departments were represented in the tent with an intense participation:

• TÜBİTAK BİLGEM
• TUBITAK Science and Society Directorate
• TUBITAK Directorate of Support Programs
• TUBITAK Human Resources DB (Career)
• TUBITAK MAM
• TÜBİTAK RUTE
• TUBITAK SAGE
• TUBITAK UME
• TUBITAK SPACE took part.

Exhibited Products

At the TÜBİTAK booth, SOM-M, GÖKSUR, SİPER, KUZGUN KY, KUZGUN TJ, KUZGUN SS, GÖKDOĞAN, BOZDOĞAN, GÖKHAN, GÖKÇE, as well as TÜRKSAT 6A and İMECE Satellite Models, Lunar Research Program Spacecraft Model, Rubidium Based Atomic Clock, Original Engine Model and Eskişehir5000 Train Model were presented to the visitors.

Workshops and Experience Areas

Within the scope of a rich activity program prepared with scientific content:

• Designing My Rocket Workshop
• S-FORCE Battle Environment Simulation
• Eskisehir5000 Model Workshop
• Energy Adventure Workshop
• Time Guardian VR Game, Moon Game, Space Traveler Game
• Satellite Model Making Workshops (TÜRKSAT 6A, İMECE and Moon Mission Models)
• DNA Model Workshop
• Molecule Modeling Workshop
• Space Station with Solar Power Panels
• Wind Energy Generating House
• VR Polar Simulation
• Pardus Universe
• Metaverse Adventure Island Event
• The Electronic Warfare Command Center Event was opened to the experience of visitors.

In addition, with the AI Career 5.0 application, visitors had the opportunity to prepare resumes supported by artificial intelligence, simulate interviews and career guidance.

The artificial intelligence-based chat application introducing the fields of activity of TÜBİTAK Support Programs Directorates also met with visitors for the first time at the festival.

Also for children and young people

• Periscope Making
• Balance Bird Design
• Hydraulic Truck Project
• Optical Illusion Device
• Kaleidoscope Making
• Artificial Intelligence Event (Kiosk)
• Science Youth Quiz

Edited.

In total, more than 50 thousand participants had the opportunity to experience TÜBİTAK's events and workshops.

Competition Tents

TÜBİTAK also hosted young people with 6 different competition tents within the scope of TEKNOFEST.

• Biotechnology Innovation Competition: 77 teams / 287 competitors
• Blockchain Competition: 28 teams / 113 competitors
• International Children's Science Competition: 81 teams / 371 competitors
• Chip Design Competition, which we organized together with YONGATEK: 15 teams / 60 competitors
• Artificial Intelligence in Aviation Competition, which we conducted together with ASELSAN: 33 teams / 99 competitors came together with science and technology enthusiasts.

TEKNOFEST Champions Tent

In the "TEKNOFEST Champions" tent, one of the most special areas of the festival, teams that ranked in the past years under the leadership of TÜBİTAK exhibited their success stories. Champion teams in different fields from autonomous vehicles to quantum technologies, from polar research to electric vehicles met with visitors and inspired young people.

2242 - University Students Research Project Competitions : 27 teams / 74 competitors

2204-C High School Students Polar Research Projects Competition: 12 teams / 46 competitors

2204-D High School Students Climate Change Research Projects Competition: 18 teams / 43 competitors attended TEKNOFEST and had the opportunity to share their experiences.

As TUBITAK, we carry out within the scope of TEKNOFEST;

• University Students Research Project Competitions
• High School Students Polar Research Project Competition
• High School Students Climate Change Research Project Competition
• International Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Competition
• High School Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Competition
• International Efficiency Challenge Electric Vehicle Competition
• High School Efficiency Challenge Electric Vehicle Competition
• Robotaxi Passenger Autonomous Vehicle Competition
• Pardus Bug Catching and Suggestion Contest
• Quantum Technologies Competition
• Hyperloop Development Competition
• Vertical Landing Rocket Competition

The winners received their awards from the President.

Science Centers and Beyond the Horizon Space Awareness Exhibition Tent

TUBITAK Science Centers and "Beyond the Horizon" Exhibition Tent, established on a huge 2100 m² area, stood out as one of the most visited sections of TEKNOFEST 2025.

There were 30 different activities in astronomy, natural sciences, mathematics, design and technology workshops. Dinosaur exhibitions, optical illusions, robot shows and virtual reality applications offered hundreds of thousands of visitors of all ages, from children to adults, the opportunity to experience science.

The "Beyond the Horizon" space exhibition, which conveyed the historical journey of Turkey's space studies, was a very striking point where astronaut suits and experimental materials were exhibited. Astronaut signing ceremonies attracted great interest from visitors.

TUBITAK Store Met with Visitors for the First Time

The TÜBİTAK Store, which was specially prepared in a 150 m² area at TEKNOFEST 2025, broke new ground this year. TUBITAK branded products, which were offered for sale for the first time, met with visitors with their unique designs that bring science into daily life. The store, which includes science books, popular magazines, science-themed stationery and accessories, and defense industry models, was one of the most striking stops of the festival with its rich content appealing to participants of all ages. Thousands of people shopped at the store throughout TEKNOFEST.

Popular Science Publications

TÜBİTAK Popular Science Publications also met with festival visitors during TEKNOFEST 2025. While 20 percent discount was applied on all science books, 4 thousand popular science magazines of TÜBİTAK were distributed free of charge during the event. Thus, visitors had the opportunity to discover the fun and instructive world of science more closely. Approximately 12 thousand publications were purchased by science and technology enthusiasts during TEKNOFEST.

TUBITAK Science High School Tent

In the tent to be opened by TÜBİTAK Science High School within the scope of TEKNOFEST, students and teachers both introduced the school to visitors and organized various scientific activities. The tent featured experiments in physics, chemistry and biology, an exhibition of robots developed by the school's robotics teams, and Kahoot quiz competitions with prizes. The winners of these activities, which aimed to provide visitors with an interactive experience, received special gifts with the Science High School logo. Visitors had the opportunity to examine sample preparations with a microscope; they also asked questions about the underwater robot, drone and line-following autonomous vehicle developed by students. At our stand, visitors were also informed about admission requirements, school facilities, academic and social opportunities offered to students, science olympiads and project processes. Our stand attracted tens of thousands of visitors.

TÜBİTAK BiGG Tent

Set up on an 800 square meter area, the BiGG Tent demonstrated TÜBİTAK's contribution to the entrepreneurship ecosystem. The 30 companies established with the support of TÜBİTAK BiGG exhibited the products and prototypes they developed. In the tent where entrepreneurship stories and success stories were shared, visitors were also informed about the support mechanisms offered by TÜBİTAK to entrepreneurs. Thanks to the BiGG Program, hundreds of startups have received millions of dollars of investment and Turkey has become one of the leading centers of technology-based entrepreneurship in Europe.

Marmara Technopolis Tent

Marmara Technopolis took its place at TEKNOFEST this year with its Incubation Center, Technology Transfer Office and different entrepreneurial companies. In the tent, visitors were informed about the services, cooperation opportunities and support programs offered by the technopolis, while 7 innovative companies introduced their products and solutions to the participants. Solutions developed in different fields ranging from virtual reality combat simulations to laser marking devices, from artificial intelligence-based security software to new generation gaming technologies were introduced throughout the event.