Türkiye's largest science and technology festival, TEKNOFEST 2025, was held at Istanbul Atatürk Airport between 17 and 21 September.
Our President, Mr Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said, "This year, 565,000 teams and 1.2 million competitors from 81 provinces and 96 countries participated in 64 different competitions at TEKNOFEST Istanbul. The Turkish defence industry's achievements are now being discussed all over the world. The gains we have made despite all the embargoes are by no means coincidental. We have only just begun to write the epic of our defence industry. We will have more proud announcements in the coming period.‘ President Erdoğan stated that young people are laying the foundations for a great and powerful Türkiye with their magnificent works, adding, ’The young pioneers of our national technology initiative continue to be a source of pride for our nation. Seeing young friends like you, with open minds and horizons, who are curious and enthusiastic, dazzling both with their personalities and the products they develop, makes us look to the future with even greater confidence."
Our Vice President, Mr Cevdet Yılmaz, commented, ‘Since 2018, TEKNOFEST has created an environment that guides our nation's journey in technology.’
Our Minister of Industry and Technology, Mr Mehmet Fatih Kacır, stated, "The National Technology Initiative is a symbol of the Turkish nation's re-emergence on the world stage and our claim to lead humanity with justice. The National Technology Initiative is a revolution of self-confidence that shatters the narrow moulds imposed upon us. The National Technology Initiative is the name of the Turkish nation's march to the pinnacle of science and technology, a nation that has written epics on every page of history, from Malazgirt to Çanakkale. This tremendous march is being realised through the vision of our President, Mr Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who inspires us with his courage and determination." "Together, we will carry our country to the horizon of the Turkish Century. We will continue to stand by our youth with TEKNOFEST, Deneyap Technology Workshops, our science centres, our science festivals, the Sector on Campus Programme, our National Technology Academy, and our National Technology Workshops, we will always continue to stand by our young people,‘ said Kacır, adding, ’With projects such as technology parks and Terminal Istanbul, the world's largest technology and entrepreneurship centre rising at Atatürk Airport, which hosts TEKNOFEST, we will build the necessary infrastructure for research and innovation."
Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman of the TEKNOFEST Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees of the Türkiye Technology Team Foundation, stated, “TEKNOFEST is not just a festival; TEKNOFEST is the strongest protest against the learned helplessness that has persisted for centuries. It is about preparing today for tomorrow's competitions, not today's. It is the cry of a generation that not only consumes technology but also designs it, declaring, “We are here too”. It is our passion to fly under our own sky with our own wings."
TÜBİTAK Completes TEKNOFEST 2025 with Record Participation
As one of the festival's largest participants, TÜBİTAK welcomed visitors in 12 themed tents covering an area of approximately 9,000 m².
TÜBİTAK stood out at the festival, which attracted intense interest from science and technology enthusiasts, with innovative projects, popular science publications, space and defence technologies, interactive workshops, exhibitions and science shows.
As TÜBİTAK, bringing visitors of all ages together with the excitement of science, we achieved our most comprehensive participation in TEKNOFEST history this year. With a wide range of activities spanning from space to biotechnology, chip design to artificial intelligence, TÜBİTAK became one of the most prominent attractions at the festival. We take pride in being one of the institutions that welcomed the most visitors at TEKNOFEST, with hundreds of thousands of attendees.
TÜBİTAK's tents and event areas were visited by our Minister of Industry and Technology, Mehmet Fatih Kacır; the President of Tatarstan, part of the Russian Federation, Rüstem Minnihanov; the Slovenian Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Igor Papic; the Indonesian Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita; the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Türkiye Monica Merino Domínguez, TEKNOFEST Board Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar, and Baykar General Manager Haluk Bayraktar. TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Orhan Aydın accompanied these dignitaries. Our President Aydın met with both competitors and science and technology enthusiasts of all ages throughout TEKNOFEST, chatting with them individually.
TÜBİTAK Event Areas
TÜBİTAK, within the scope of TEKNOFEST 2025; TÜBİTAK Event Tent, BİGG Tent, Science High School Tent, Marmara Teknokent Tent, Science Centres and Beyond the Horizon Exhibition Tent, Degree Tent, TÜBİTAK Shop and Bookstore, and various competition tents.
Event Tent Participants
Visitors had the opportunity to meet with units representing TÜBİTAK's research and development ecosystem. TÜBİTAK's centres, institutes, and support presidencies were represented with strong participation in the tent:
TÜBİTAK BİLGEM
TÜBİTAK Science and Society Directorate
TÜBİTAK Support Programmes Directorate
TÜBİTAK Human Resources (Career)
TÜBİTAK MAM
TÜBİTAK RUTE
TÜBİTAK SAGE
TÜBİTAK UME
TÜBİTAK UZAY were present.
Products on Display
At the TÜBİTAK stand, some of the defence industry's flagship projects are on display, including SOM-M, GÖKSUR, SİPER, KUZGUN KY, KUZGUN TJ, KUZGUN SS, GÖKDOĞAN, BOZDOĞAN, GÖKHAN, GÖKÇE, as well as TÜRKSAT 6A and İMECE Satellite Models, the Moon Research Programme Spacecraft Model, the Rubidium-Based Atomic Clock, the Original Engine Model, and the Eskişehir5000 Train Model are on display for visitors to see.
Workshops and Experience Areas
Within the scope of the rich event programme prepared with scientific content:
Designing My Rocket Workshop
S-FORCE Combat Environment Simulation
Eskişehir5000 Model Workshop
Energy Adventure Workshop
Time Keeper VR Game, Moon Game, Space Traveller Game
Satellite Model Construction Workshops (TÜRKSAT 6A, İMECE and Moon Mission Models)
DNA Model Workshop
Molecular Modelling Workshop
Solar-Powered Space Station
Wind Energy-Powered House
VR Polar Simulation
Pardus Universe
Metaverse Adventure Island Event
Electronic Warfare Command Centre Event is now open to visitors.
Additionally, with the AI Career 5.0 application, visitors had the opportunity to create AI-supported CVs, conduct interview simulations, and receive career guidance.
An AI-based chat application introducing the areas of activity of the TÜBİTAK Support Programmes Presidencies also met visitors for the first time at the festival.
Furthermore, the following activities were organised for children and young people:
Periscope Construction
Balance Bird Design
Hydraulic Truck Project
Optical Illusion Device
Kaleidoscope Construction
Artificial Intelligence Activity (Kiosk)
Science Youth Knowledge Competition
Over 50,000 participants had the opportunity to experience TÜBİTAK's events and workshops.
Competition Tents
TÜBİTAK also hosted young people in six different competition tents as part 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, co-organised with YONGATEK: 15 teams / 60 participants
Artificial Intelligence in Aviation Competition, co-organised with ASELSAN: 33 teams / 99 participants brought together science and technology enthusiasts.
TEKNOFEST Champions Tent
In the TEKNOFEST Champions tent, one of the festival's most special areas, teams that had won awards in previous years under the leadership of TÜBİTAK showcased their success stories. Champion teams from various fields, ranging from autonomous vehicles to quantum technologies, polar research to electric vehicles, met with visitors and inspired young people.
2242 - University Student Research Project Competitions: 27 teams / 74 competitors
2204-C High School Students Polar Research Projects Competition: 12 teams / 46 participants
2204-D High School Students Climate Change Research Projects Competition: 18 teams / 43 participants had the opportunity to share their experiences by participating in TEKNOFEST.
As TÜBİTAK, we conducted the following within the scope of TEKNOFEST:
University Student Research Project Competitions
High School Students Polar Research Project Competition
High School Students Climate Change Research Project Competition
International Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Competition
Inter-High School Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Competition
International Efficiency Challenge Electric Vehicle Competition
Inter-High School Efficiency Challenge Electric Vehicle Competition
Robotaxi Passenger Autonomous Vehicle Competition
Pardus Bug Hunting and Suggestion Competition
Quantum Technologies Competition
Hyperloop Development Competition
Vertical Landing Rocket Competition
The winners received their awards from our President.
Science Centres and Beyond the Horizon Space Awareness Exhibition Tent
Set up in a vast 2,100 m² area, the TÜBİTAK Science Centres and Beyond the Horizon Exhibition Tent stood out as one of the most visited sections of TEKNOFEST 2025.
Here, 30 different activities were held 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 Türkiye's space studies, was a particularly noteworthy point, displaying astronaut suits and experimental materials. Astronaut signing ceremonies also attracted great interest from visitors.
TÜBİTAK Store Meets Visitors for the First Time
The TÜBİTAK Store, specially prepared with an area of 150 m² at TEKNOFEST 2025, made history this year. TÜBİTAK-branded products, offered for sale for the first time, met visitors with their unique designs that bring science into everyday life. The store, which featured science books, popular magazines, science-themed stationery and accessories, and defence industry models, became one of the festival's most notable stops 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 throughout TEKNOFEST 2025. A 20% discount was applied to all science books, and 4,000 copies of TÜBİTAK's popular science magazine were distributed free of charge during the event. This gave visitors the opportunity to explore the fun and educational world of science more closely. Approximately 12,000 publications were purchased by science and technology enthusiasts throughout TEKNOFEST.
TÜBİTAK Science High School Tent
Within the scope of TEKNOFEST, the TÜBİTAK Science High School opened a tent where students and teachers introduced the school to visitors and organised various scientific activities. The tent featured experiments in physics, chemistry and biology, an exhibition of robots developed by the school's robotics teams, and award-winning Kahoot quizzes. Aiming to offer visitors an interactive experience, special gifts bearing the Science High School logo were given to those who placed in the competitions. Visitors had the opportunity to examine sample preparations under a microscope; they also asked questions about the underwater robot, drone, and line-following autonomous vehicle developed by the students. Our stand also provided visitors with information on admission requirements, the school's facilities, academic and social opportunities offered to students, science competitions, and project processes. Our stand, which attracted significant interest, welcomed tens of thousands of visitors.
TÜBİTAK BiGG Tent
The BiGG Tent, set up in an 800-square-metre area, showcased TÜBİTAK's contribution to the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Thirty companies established with TÜBİTAK BiGG support exhibited their products and prototypes. In the tent, where entrepreneurial stories and success stories were shared, visitors also learned about the support mechanisms TÜBİTAK offers to entrepreneurs. Thanks to the BiGG Programme, hundreds of start-ups have grown by attracting millions of dollars in investment to date, and Türkiye has become one of Europe's leading centres for technology-based entrepreneurship.
Marmara Teknokent Tent
Marmara Teknokent took its place at this year's TEKNOFEST with its Incubation Centre, Technology Transfer Office and various entrepreneurial companies. In the tent, visitors were informed about the services, collaboration opportunities and support programmes offered by the technopark, while seven innovative companies also presented their products and solutions to participants. Solutions developed in various fields, ranging from virtual reality combat simulations to laser marking devices, artificial intelligence-based security software to next-generation gaming technologies, were showcased throughout the event.
