Turkey's President Erdogan invites citizens to take part in TEKNOFEST 2025, an event that is broadening its focus to incorporate technologies beyond defense.
TEKNOFEST 2025: Turkey's Pride and Excitement in Aviation, Space, and Technology
In the heart of Istanbul, the world's largest aviation, space, and technology festival, TEKNOFEST 2025, is underway. The event, which entered its second day on Thursday, is drawing massive crowds, reflecting the citizens' pride and excitement.
Last year's TEKNOFEST Blue Homeland in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus attracted approximately 250,000 attendees. The naval showcase featured Turkish frigates, submarines, and the restored Savarona yacht. Since its inception, TEKNOFEST has welcomed over 11 million visitors, making it a significant event in Turkey's calendar.
The festival is more than just a spectacle. It is a platform for innovation and the nurturing of future technical capabilities in Turkey. The National Competency Initiative, a comprehensive training program aimed at building technical capabilities for future defense needs, is a key part of this endeavour. Approved by Turkey's Defense Industry Executive Committee, the initiative spans from high schools to universities and includes sector professionals and leaders.
Haluk Gorgun, head of Turkey's Presidency of Defense Industries, describes the National Technology Initiative as 'perhaps one of our most valuable projects.' The initiative is intended to prepare the human resources needed for the development of future technologies.
TEKNOFEST 2025 is not limited to the older generation. The average age of Turkey's defense industry workforce is 34 years old, making it one of the world's youngest in the sector. Young participants in TEKNOFEST competitions have advantages over their older colleagues due to the absence of similar competitions during their formative years. Gorgun emphasized that TEKNOFEST participants range in age from 7 to 77, with a shared passion for technology.
The festival draws over 1.1 million competitors across 64 main categories and 150 subcategories. More than 500,000 teams compete in events held on over 1 million square meters of outdoor space and 80,000 square meters of indoor venues.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan invites all citizens, especially the young, to visit the festival. The festival continues through the weekend at Ataturk Airport, organized by the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the T3 Foundation with Anadolu Agency as global communications partner.
Many internationally recognized ventures have emerged from TEKNOFEST competitions, and Gorgun aims to see these multiply and become even stronger. With the passion and talent on display at TEKNOFEST 2025, it seems that the future of Turkey's technology sector is in safe hands.
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