Rector Aydın: “TEKNOFEST is where technological innovation takes root”

Speaking at TEKNOFEST Southeast Anatolia in Şanlıurfa, OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın highlighted the University’s 130-student delegation, four finalist teams, three ISIF’26 medals, patent performance, and plans for an AI-supported agricultural farm.

Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın described TEKNOFEST as a place where the “first spark of technological spring takes root,” saying that this year the spirit of technological innovation had arrived in Şanlıurfa.

The Aviation, Space and Technology Festival (TEKNOFEST), organized under the leadership of the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the T3 Foundation, with Anadolu Agency (AA) serving as its Global Communication Partner, is welcoming visitors at Şanlıurfa GAP Airport.

OMU is represented at TEKNOFEST Southeast Anatolia by four finalist teams. VORTEX reached the final of the Jet Engine Design Competition, PARS advanced to the Rotary-Wing Category of the International Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Competition, 19TECH became a finalist in the Unmanned Marine Vehicle Competition, and CeitssLAB-Onk3T reached the final of the 3T in Oncology Competition.

The teams are made up primarily of students from electrical and electronics engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, metallurgical and materials engineering, industrial engineering, and the Faculty of Architecture.

“We joined TEKNOFEST with 130 students”

Speaking to an Anadolu Agency reporter, Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın emphasized that countries with strong technological capabilities are also countries with greater influence in the international arena.

Highlighting the importance of domestic and national production, Aydın said:

“For our country to have a stronger voice in the world, it needs to develop its own independent, domestic, national, and original technologies. TEKNOFEST was launched with this purpose, and the National Technology Initiative was established with this vision. It has now continued for nine years.”

Using the traditional Turkish metaphor of cemre, the first sign of spring, Aydın added:

“TEKNOFESTs are the places where the first spark of technological spring falls to the ground. This year, our cemre has fallen in Şanlıurfa.”

Students develop ideas, prototypes, and patents

Explaining how OMU supports TEKNOFEST through student projects, Aydın highlighted the University’s National Technology Workshop, which was established one month earlier with support from TÜBİTAK.

“Our students develop their own projects in these workshops, generate ideas, produce prototypes, and turn them into products,” Aydın said. “From time to time, they also patent the knowledge and technologies they develop.”

She noted that OMU ranks 12th among public universities in Türkiye in terms of patent ownership and currently has five commercialized patents.

“We saw the results of these efforts today,” Aydın said. “The results were announced, and we won one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal. We joined TEKNOFEST with 130 students and 17 teams, and four of our teams reached the finals.”

AI-supported agricultural farm planned at OMU

Aydın also referred to OMU’s plans to establish an AI-supported agricultural farm following an agreement between the Agricultural Technologies Cluster (TÜME) Foundation and the Council of Higher Education (YÖK).

She said the relevant agreements had been completed and that the agricultural farm would be established in the near future.

“We need to build this ecosystem with partner countries”

Aydın also emphasized TEKNOFEST’s growing international dimension.

“This year, we have observed participation from many different countries,” she said. “We also need to build this ecosystem in partner countries and develop joint projects together.”

She underlined the importance of expanding technological cooperation internationally while continuing to strengthen Türkiye’s domestic innovation ecosystem.