Speaking after the opening ceremony of TEKNOFEST Blue Homeland in Kocaeli, Selçuk Bayraktar, chairman of the TEKNOFEST Board, said it was of great importance to raise a generation that does not merely consume technology but produces and develops it in the face of transformations around the world.
Raising awareness of the Blue Homeland
The event, held at the Gölcük Naval Shipyard Command, is being organized under the main coordination of the Ministry of National Defense and the Turkish Technology Team Foundation. The event aims to explain the importance of Türkiye's seas to people of all generations.
Bayraktar said the Blue Homeland referred not only to vast maritime areas but was also an important element in terms of Türkiye's independence and sovereignty. He said the event aimed to bring young people who design the technologies of the future through technology competitions together with society and the components of the naval forces.
Emphasis on the Bayraktar TB3
Bayraktar said the Bayraktar TB3 was the world's first unmanned aerial vehicle to take off from a ship with a short runway. He assessed that this development represented a significant change in the field of naval aviation.
Defense industry and international cooperation
Responding to a question about the impact of the agreement signed in Mecca on the defense industry, Bayraktar said Türkiye's goal of growing its defense industry on a global scale was creating new opportunities in diplomacy and international alliances as well.
Bayraktar said the new generation would develop products in cooperation with Türkiye's friendly countries, not only in the defense industry but in all areas of technology.
On August 7, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Şerif signed a joint defense agreement in Mecca. The agreement aims to strengthen obligations to preserve peace, stability and prosperity at the regional and global levels and to increase cooperation based on a shared understanding of security.
The agreement provides for strengthening joint deterrence against any act of aggression. Accordingly, an armed attack against any one of the three countries is considered an attack against all of them.
The event will continue until August 23
The TEKNOFEST Blue Homeland events began in Kocaeli on Thursday morning. The event highlights Türkiye's naval power, independence and national capabilities in the defense industry, while addressing technology and defense industry issues related to maritime affairs.
The event, held at the Gölcük Naval Shipyard Command, will welcome visitors until August 23. The festival brings together people interested in technology and the defense industry and gives young people the opportunity to display technological innovations such as rockets and robots.
First held in 2018, TEKNOFEST operates as a platform for discovering young talent and showcasing technological innovations. Numerous public institutions contribute to the festival.
