TEKNOFEST Belt

The TEKNOFEST Generation is a social concept used to describe young individuals in Türkiye who have shown intense participation in technology-focused activities centered around the TEKNOFEST Aviation, Space and Technology Festival, which has been held since 2018. This term has been expanded to encompass not only festival participants but also the younger generation engaged in production within engineering, science and technology fields, or those who have been directed toward or developed their identity within these domains.

The TEKNOFEST Aviation, Space and Technology Festival is an aviation, space and technology event organized under the National Technology Initiative by the Türkiye Technology Team Foundation (T3 Foundation). First held in 2018 in Istanbul, the festival hosts numerous activities including technology competitions, aerial displays, concerts and panel discussions. Its aim is to raise awareness about fostering interest in technology within society, particularly among youth, and to transform Türkiye into a technology-producing society. Participation, which began at a few thousand in the early years, has grown rapidly in subsequent years. The festival is recognized as Türkiye’s first and only event dedicated to aviation and space technologies.

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The term “TEKNOFEST Generation” is also used in official discourse not merely to refer to participants of the event but as a cultural symbol representing youth trained under the framework of the National Technology Initiative. The concept first entered public consciousness alongside the TEKNOFEST organization itself and was subsequently adopted frequently by state officials, especially after 2020. In political discourse, “TEKNOFEST Generation” has been promoted as an alternative to international terms such as “Generation Z.” Within this narrative, youth are positioned as individuals committed to national values, open to collective work, technologically competent and eager to produce innovative solutions.

The first TEKNOFEST event was held in Istanbul in 2018. Organized under the leadership of the Türkiye Technology Team Foundation (T3 Foundation) and the Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye, the festival has since been held in various cities including Ankara, Gaziantep, Samsun and İzmir. Participation levels have increased annually, with the festival attracting youth through technology competitions at high school and university levels.

The organization of TEKNOFEST is sustained through collaborative efforts between the T3 Foundation, the Ministry of Industry and Technology and numerous public and private institutions. The festival is conducted under the patronage of the Presidency and under the slogan “National Technology Initiative.” Each year, numerous competitions are held in fields such as robotics, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, cybersecurity and space technologies. These competitions aim to enhance youth competencies in science and technology. Official statements describe TEKNOFEST as a “social mobilization aimed at achieving excellence in high technology and science,” covering areas such as robotics, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. In addition, exhibitions and booths display domestic unmanned aerial vehicles, rockets and other technologies to the public.

The video titled “TEKNOFEST Generation” documents interactions between Mustafa Varank and young participants during TEKNOFEST events. One segment features two children giving brief interviews in which they express their interest in technology and TEKNOFEST, and they are presented as exemplars of the “TEKNOFEST Generation.”

Applied STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) plays a key role in the formation of the TEKNOFEST Generation. Through competitions organized within the festival, students develop projects in fields such as robotics, artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial vehicles, cybersecurity and electric vehicles. During this process, students gain opportunities to develop teamwork, research, prototyping and presentation skills. In addition, Deneyap Technology Workshops conducted by the T3 Foundation are among the programs supporting the technical infrastructure of the TEKNOFEST Generation.

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The competitions and workshops under TEKNOFEST provide an educational platform for youth to gain hands-on experience. Through festival activities, tens of thousands of young people—from middle school and high school students to university youth—produce technology projects and undergo practical training. In this way, TEKNOFEST encourages youth to engage in projects and develop talent in engineering and mathematics.

Programs such as the Deneyap Technology Workshops, supported by the T3 Foundation, operate in parallel with TEKNOFEST to generate similar impact.

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The TEKNOFEST Generation is shaped through support programs implemented by the Türkiye Technology Team Foundation (T3 Foundation) for its technology teams and has gained visibility at the international level. In this context, 500 young finalists and award-winning competitors from TEKNOFEST technology competitions participated in the 74th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), where the T3 Foundation maintained a booth and the Turkish Space Agency served as platinum sponsor. These participants, presenting projects in areas such as space, aviation, defense, education, agriculture and communications, followed scientific developments throughout the congress and gained opportunities to share their own production processes on the global stage. Some of the initiatives and student groups supported within the T3 Foundation’s technology team ecosystem introduced their original products and interacted with international congress attendees. These groups, including teams developing hybrid rocket motors, conducting cepstral satellite launch projects or designing unmanned aerial vehicles, benefit from the foundation’s long-term mentorship, laboratory access, production infrastructure and financial support. In this context, the TEKNOFEST Generation consists of young individuals who are not only prepared for national competitions but also for global scientific engagement, integrating applied technology production with the learning process.

In the video, T3 Board Member Selçuk Bayraktar stated: “When we embarked on this journey, some told us ‘You cannot do it.’ But you, the TEKNOFEST Generation, proved them wrong. This path is not easy. Obstacles will arise and barriers will be placed before you. But be assured, they will not be able to stop you.”

The T3 Foundation’s support for technology teams enables them to participate not only in national events but also in international competitions and congresses. The foundation provides multi-dimensional contributions including materials, mentorship, production infrastructure and travel support to assist teams in long-term project development. In this framework, projects such as HELLO SPACE’s cepstral satellite, NOVART DEFENSE’s hybrid rocket motor, İTÜNOM’s UAV systems and SELÇUK CAPSULE’s hyperloop vehicle have participated in competitions and events held in various countries, allowing young participants to gain global research and development experience.

Teams supported under the T3 Foundation’s National Technology Teams Support Program have achieved various rankings in international competitions over the years. In 2018, they won third place at RoboCup Canada; in 2019, they received the “Best Team Spirit” award at the Spaceport America Cup in the United States, third place in the AUVSI SUAS competition, first place in the CANSAT competition, third place in the Formula Student competition in the United Kingdom, and second place in the “Impossible Mission” category at the FIRA competition in South Korea. These results demonstrate the technical capacity of the supported teams and their level of participation in international competitions.

• RoboCup Canada – Third place in the world (2018)
• SPACEPORT AMERICA (IREC) USA – Best Team Spirit Award (2019)
• AUVSI SUAS USA – Third place in the world (2019)
• CANSAT USA – First place in the world (2019)
• FORMULA STUDENT UK – Third place in the world (2019)
• FIRA South Korea – Second place in the world in the “Impossible Mission” category (2019)

The foundation adopts a comprehensive support model aimed at guiding teams emerging from technology competitions toward production, entrepreneurship and academic research.

Ministry of National Education officials have noted that the festival has increased interest in technology among youth and highlighted the international successes of groups such as the İTÜ Vefa Aviation Team, established by students of Vefa Yurdu.

The İTÜ Vefa Aviation Team, established within Istanbul Technical University in 2018, has participated in various technology competitions under TEKNOFEST since its founding. In 2024, the team competed in the international rocket competition Spaceport America Cup 2024 held in the United States. The competition involved 152 teams from 20 countries and is focused on high-altitude rocket engineering. The İTÜ Vefa Aviation Team competed in the 10,000 feet (approximately 3,048 meters) altitude category and secured first place in that category.

The team is regarded among engineering and aviation teams in Türkiye composed of youth that compete internationally. The competition is considered one of the most comprehensive university-level student contests in the field of rocket technology worldwide.

The video showcases participation in the festival, held in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Republic, by individuals of various age groups in science and technology-themed activities. The video humorously distinguishes the TEKNOFEST Generation from other generations.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated: “Our hope is the TEKNOFEST Generation. I thank God for granting me the opportunity to walk this path and achieve unity of purpose and spirit with such youth. They will not be able to stop them. Because our achievements reach places their dreams cannot. The spark first lit by a handful of young people in Istanbul has now enveloped all our regions.”

In one of the opening speeches of TEKNOFEST, this generation was associated with the phrase “Asım’s generation.” This analogy draws from a poem by Necip Fazıl Kısakürek and refers to a specific historical and ideological youth typology.

Analyses indicate that the concept of the “TEKNOFEST Generation” in official discourse is constructed not merely to refer to youth interested in technology but also to represent individuals aligned with a specific cultural and value system. In this context, the concept is presented as an alternative to global generational labels such as “Generation Z” or “Generation Y,” embodying a locally integrated understanding of youth.