Turkey announces new tech entrepreneurship centers and nuclear energy initiatives

Turkish officials are highlighting major technological advancements and educational initiatives through the TEKNOFEST festival. Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır announced that the first phase of ‘Terminal İstanbul’, a major technology entrepreneurship center, will launch this month, with plans to establish another significant center at Atatürk Airport.

During the TEKNOFEST International Electric Vehicle Races in Kocaeli, Minister Kacır noted that over 1.6 million young people participated in the festival's 61 competitions this year. He emphasized that battery-powered, electric, and hydrogen-fueled vehicles will shape the future of the automotive industry.

In the field of nuclear energy, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced the ‘TENMAK Human Resources Development Program’. This initiative will provide scholarships and mentorship to 500 university students to bolster the nation's nuclear engineering talent. The program coincides with the growth of the TEKNOFEST Nuclear Energy Technologies Design Competition, which expanded from 87 teams from two countries last year to 192 teams from nine countries this year. Additionally, Selçuk Bayraktar expressed confidence in the development of small modular reactors (SMR) within the next few years to enhance energy independence.