The Aerospace and Technology Festival (TEKNOFEST) 2018 of which TUBITAK is also among the stakeholders, was held on September 20-23 at İGA İstanbul New Airport.
The products and projects of the Institutes and Presidency units were exhibited in the stand of TÜBİTAK, which participated in the Festival with BILGEM, MAM, SAGE, UZAY, UME, TUG, ULAKBIM, BİTO, BİDEB, Kayseri and Konya Science Centers. Science and technology lovers, who showed great interest in TÜBİTAK stand, participated in the activities of Kayseri and Konya Science Centers.
TUBITAK, at its stand throughout the four days of exuberant festival welcomed many participants including students and citizens, and particularly Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank, Industry and Technology Deputy Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır and T3 Foundation President, including Selcuk Bayraktar Board of Trustees.
PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN: “THE FIRST STAGE OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS IS TO IMAGINE”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who graced the Festival, honored young scientists who were supported with the contributions of TÜBİTAK and received medals in the International Science Olympiads.
Emphasizing that such activities will encourage young people to love technology in all areas and contribute to technology development processes, Mr. Erdoğan spoke. “In today's world, the first condition of independence is to reach the position of the country that designs, develops, produces and exports technology. We cannot guarantee our freedom in any area as long as we remain only as a user of technology. Every event we have experienced in recent years warns us.” Referring to the fact that like every innovation, the first stage of technological developments is to imagine, President Erdoğan expressed his hope that the National Technology Movement and TEKNOFEST will encourage young people to have big dreams again.
ALL OUR HOPE IS OUR YOUTH!
Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank together with the Deputy Minister Kacır visited the TÜBİTAK stand and received information about the products exhibited by TÜBİTAK Institutes. Minister Varank said “Young people who see the excitement we see here will have very important projects in the future. Very big organization. Here exists the support from NGOs, private companies, the state, as well as the public.” Stressing that their aim in the festival was to place the fire of technology and aviation to the hearts of the youth, Varank said that it was a joy for everyone to come together and achieve such an organization. Minister Varank spoke: “Hopefully, we want to make this festival a world-famous festival, and we want to achieve successful results here. All our hope is our youth.”
TÜBİTAK President Dr. Hasan Mandal's Festival Program Was Intense
TÜBİTAK President Prof. Hasan Mandal has also been closely involved with the teams participating in the 3rd International Unmanned Aircraft Races organized this year. Professor Mandal, followed the competitions during the festival and chatted with competitors.
Stressing that National Technology Movement is the main approach in strengthening our country’s position in the global competitive environment and achieving the leadership position there, Dr. Mandal said that the aim of the festival and the ecosystem it create will contribute to the development of qualified human resources in our country. Professor Mandal also added that the festival will create curiosity and passion for science and technology in our youth.
“We wanted to be a part of this event”
Prof. Hasan Mandal, who followed closely the activities and the competitions of UAV teams during the festival, said that the competitions had been very enjoyable. Expressing that the UAV competitions were held for the third time this year, Prof. Mandal said: “We have organized these competitions twice as TÜBİTAK. But this is the first time in TEKNOFEST. We also wanted to be a part of this event. This year, 312 teams applied to the races. 85 of them passed the preliminary eliminations and were invited here. An international competition. Our participants from abroad in addition to our high schools and universities in Turkey there. I would like to thank not only our winning youth, but also all of our friends who have competed in this festival, I congratulate them all.”
Winners of UAV Competitions at the Festival were Announced
This year, the winners of TUBITAK 2018 International Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Competition that is held in Teknofest, Turkey's first aviation, aerospace and technology festival, took their awards from TÜBİTAK President Prof. Hasan Mandal. Vice President Fuat Oktay, Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, T3 Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar, Istanbul Governor Vasip Şahin and Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mevlüt Uysal also attended the award ceremony.
The UAV Competitions, which attracted great interest from the citizens attending the festival, were held in two categories this year as “fixed wings” and “rotating wings.
Karayel and Flying Castle teams shared honorable mention in the Fixed Wing category. Anadolu UAV team won third place, Ghana Bandung Institute of Technology Ghana Raksaka second place and Anatolia Aero Design team won first prize.
In the Rotating Wing category, Bee Robotics and Marun Çelebi shared honorable mention. S-Air won second prize, S-Quad won second prize and Bendis team won first prize.
Young Students Had the Opportunity to have a Face-to-Face Meeting with TUBITAK President
Lucky science-lover students who retweeted the Twitter sharing of TUBITAK President Hasan Mandal had the opportunity to meet with Prof. Mandal face to face. Murat Yeşiltepe and Havva Nur met with Hasan Mandal and chatted at the TUBITAK stand. Professor Dr. Mandal recommended that the young scientist candidates to follow their dreams.
Take Off Istanbul Startup Summit was Held
Professor Mandal was the moderator of the panel titled in The Role of Cooperation of States and International Institutions in Supporting Young Entrepreneurship with the Goal of Sustainable Development at the Take Off Istanbul Startup Summit organized within the scope of TEKNOFEST 2018.
At the beginning of the panel expressing that TUBITAK is the largest funding institution of Turkey in the process of research, technology development, innovation and entrepreneurship since 55 years, he emphasized the importance of mentoring by pointing out that there are critical factors more important than finance in entrepreneurship oriented processes. After Professor Mandal's speech, the panelists shared the activities and experiences of their institutions and countries regarding the role of the public in supporting young entrepreneurs for sustainable development.
11.10.2018