TEKNOFEST Azerbaijan, organized jointly by the Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Turkey, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, and the Turkey Technology Team Foundation (T3 Foundation)—with TÜBİTAK as a partner—has opened its doors.
The festival’s opening ceremony was attended by Mustafa Varank, Minister of Industry and Technology; Reşat Nebiyev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Digital Development and Transport; İsmail Demir, President of the Presidency’s Defense Industries; Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman of the TEKNOFEST Board of Directors; TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, and numerous senior executives from institutions and companies in Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Speaking at the opening of the event held at Baku’s Crystal Hall and Seaside Boulevard National Park, Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank expressed his great joy at being in Azerbaijan, stating, “We first lit the TEKNOFEST flame in Istanbul, then carried it to Anatolia. Then, last year, when our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, lit the signal flare by declaring, ‘We will turn TEKNOFEST into an international brand,’ our first stop was, of course, dear Azerbaijan. I am proud to say that the spark ignited by our President that day has now turned into a grand celebration here today. The excitement, enthusiasm, and joy I feel every year when I enter the TEKNOFEST grounds—I am experiencing them in a whole new way today. ”Today, I am rejoicing not only on behalf of Turkey but also on behalf of our brother nation, Azerbaijan; I am rejoicing for the Turkic world and for the Islamic world,” he said.
Varank, noting that the two sister nations had lit the torch of technology hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder, emphasized that the enthusiasm of this flame would spread throughout the Turkic world.
Addressing the young people in his speech, Varank said, “The young people here today will be the engineers, scientists, and researchers who shape the world of tomorrow. If I were in your shoes, I’d sleep here and wake up here. I would examine every single airplane, every single vehicle, and every single piece of technology one by one and take notes. Yes, if necessary, I wouldn’t even go home—I’d sleep right here. Being in this field is such a great opportunity. On this occasion, I would like to express my gratitude to our esteemed President, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, who made Teknofest Azerbaijan possible, to the Government of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the Turkey Technology Team Foundation, and all my colleagues.” he said.
“TEKNOFEST is the best investment in people”
Noting that they had set a goal for Turkey under the leadership of President Erdoğan, Varank said, “We said that the name of our story of independence is the National Technology Initiative.” Look, just 10 to 15 years ago, some countries would not sell us defense industry products, UAVs, or armed UAVs—even when we paid for them. They imposed all kinds of embargoes, both covert and overt. At times, they wouldn’t even repair or maintain the products they sold us. While Turkey was fighting terrorism and terrorists, they deprived us of those technologies and products. But with the National Technology Initiative, we’ve turned the tables. “The Turkish nation, to whom they refused to sell UAVs back then, has now reached a point where it produces the most advanced technologies of our era. Today, those very countries are lining up to purchase the Turkish-made engineering marvels you see right here in this square,” he remarked.
Varank emphasized that there is nothing young people cannot achieve when given the opportunity and guidance, saying, “That is precisely why TEKNOFEST is the best investment in people. At the festival we’ve been organizing in Turkey since 2018, hundreds of thousands of our young people experience this excitement every year. Our festival continues to break its own records year after year. God willing, Azerbaijan TEKNOFEST will also serve as a milestone in our brothers’ and sisters” technological journey. In its very first year, Azerbaijan TEKNOFEST attracted over 1,000 teams and nearly 6,000 participants to its competitions.”.
“With TEKNOFEST, we are leading these two victorious nations into the future at their strongest”
Noting that the path to full political independence lies through technological independence, Varank said, “We say this everywhere, but there is a special significance to saying it in Azerbaijan. Because we are a nation that has suffered the consequences of not being technologically independent for many years. We never forget how Turkey was treated during the Cyprus Peace Operation and in its fight against terrorist organizations. Both our Azerbaijani brothers and we know all too well how the world remained silent in the face of the occupation and oppression in Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan TEKNOFEST is the most beautiful response to all of this. That is why today in Baku, we are not merely holding a festival. Today, from here, we are once again proclaiming our independence and the motto ”one nation, two states” to the entire world. “With TEKNOFEST—which sows the seeds of domestic and national technologies and broadens the horizons of our youth—we are carrying these two victorious states into the future with the greatest strength,” he said.
After the opening remarks, Varank visited the booths and said they wanted to establish technology parks in Azerbaijan similar to those in Turkey. Varank also noted that they would sign agreements that would contribute to strengthening economic ties between the two countries.
Minister Varank toured the TÜBİTAK booth alongside Deputy Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır and TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal. Minister Varank participated in the activities at the workshops and conducted an experiment with the children.
The President of TÜBİTAK took part in activities with the children
TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal joined the TEKNOFEST group photo. At the TÜBİTAK booth, Mandal visited the science centers’ robot painter workshop, UZAY’s TÜRKSAT 6A satellite model workshop, and SAGE’s rocket model workshop, and tried out BİLGEM’s avatar.
Mandal, who was examining a wood lathe and a band saw, attended a solar panel event and followed the activities at the Deneyap technology workshops. Mandal, who conducted experiments with the children alongside Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank, chatted with the children as they visited the various workshops.
Prof. Dr. Mandal visited the booths of the teams participating in the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Competition, the only competition organized by TÜBİTAK as part of TEKNOFEST Azerbaijan. There, he examined the UAVs designed by the 14 teams—four of which were Turkish—participating in the PUA competition under the ’free mission“ category and gathered information. Mandal chatted with the young participants and took a commemorative photo with them. Speaking there, Mandal said, “Compared to previous years, we observed that because the category is ”open mission,” the competitors have taken on more challenging tasks with the UAVs they designed. “Beyond simply using technology, the fact that they are able to develop, produce, and design it has made us very pleased,” he said. Mandal chatted with the young people and took a commemorative photo with them.
TÜBİTAK brought the technologies it developed to Azerbaijan
TÜBİTAK, which is participating in TEKNOFEST with its various institutes and centers to showcase the technologies it has developed, is bringing visitors face-to-face with technology through its workshops.
Under the auspices of TÜBİTAK’s Science and Society Directorate (BİTO), science centers are taking part in TEKNOFEST Azerbaijan with a variety of colorful workshops and events. Numerous events organized jointly by the Antalya Science Center, Science Üsküdar, Elazığ Science Center, Kayseri Science Center, Kocaeli Science Center, Konya Science Center, and DENEYAP Technology Workshops are designed specifically for children.
The TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center (MAM) is adding color to TEKNOFEST Azerbaijan with a variety of fascinating events in the field of life sciences.
At the stand of the Defense Industry Research and Development Institute (TÜBİTAK-SAGE)—which plans to showcase ammunition systems developed domestically and independently by Turkish engineers, as well as host technology workshops for children and young people— The KUZGUN modular guided munitions family will be on display for visitors. The booth will also appeal to science enthusiasts with events such as the Rocket Model Workshop and the VR Virtual Reality Experience.
TÜBİTAK National Observatory (TUG) took part in TEKNOFEST Azerbaijan with an observation event using its solar telescope.
The TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute (TÜBİTAK UZAY), meanwhile, set up a booth at TEKNOFEST Azerbaijan to provide information to enthusiasts, featuring scale models of the GÖKTÜRK-2, TÜRKSAT-6A, and İMECE satellites. In addition, workshops are being held where children can participate in building a TÜRKSAT-6A satellite model.
As part of the festival, various performances and technology competitions will be held through May 29.
