TEKNOFEST Financial Technologies Competition

TEKNOFEST Financial Technologies (FinTech) Competition is a national technology competition organized to support the development of financial technology solutions in line with Türkiye’s technology based development program National Technology Initiative. The competition aims to contribute to the digital transformation of the finance sector, open pathways for domestic FinTech startups, and increase the skilled workforce in this field.

The financial sector is one of the areas most intensively affected by digitalization. In recent years, it has entered a transformative process driven by artificial intelligence, blockchain, the Internet of Things and cybersecurity such as technologies. This transformation affects not only individuals’ daily transactions but also countries’ integration into the global financial system and their economic competition power. The Financial Technologies Competition under the TEKNOFEST umbrella aims to support young entrepreneurs engineers and innovators who will lead this transformation. The competition seeks to strengthen Türkiye’s financial technology infrastructure through projects developed in areas such as payment services digital banking automation systems and robo-advisory.

^{TEKNOFEST Financial Technologies Competition (Photo: Akif Yusuf Ekin)}

The competition covers various subfields within financial technologies. Participants are expected to develop innovative and applicable projects in these themes:

Payment Services and Technologies Applications: Mobile payment systems digital wallets domestic and international money transfer solutions smart contracts models for “buy now pay later” offline payment protocols bill payment gateway systems and data sharing technologies.

Automation and Advisory Technologies in Financial Management: Automated portfolio management and algorithmic trade robo-advisory and customer support systems investment advisory powered by emotion analysis interactive platforms providing basic financial education.

Banking Technologies Applications: Customer behavior analysis using big data AI assisted credit and risk analysis digital banking transition processes fraud detection systems and open banking API solutions.

Applications are open to pre-university undergraduate master’s and PhD students as well as individuals who graduated within the last three years. The competition is conducted in teams of at least two and at most five members. Participants are encouraged to seek mentorship from an academic expert or professional in the field. Each team may designate only one advisor. Mentors are expected to provide support throughout the project process and be present with the team during the final stage. Submitted projects must be original. Projects previously submitted or modified for other competitions may be presented. A single project may be submitted to only one category or competition. Applications will be invalidated if plagiarism is detected in the submitted projects.

^{TEKNOFEST Financial Technologies Competition (Photo: Akif Yusuf Ekin)}

The competition consists of three main stages: Project Preliminary Evaluation Report Project Presentation (online) and Final Stage (in-person presentation and evaluation). All application and documentation procedures are carried out through the Registration Management System (RMS). The team captain and mentor are responsible for tracking all processes from application and report submission to member addition or removal. Limited travel and accommodation support is provided for finalist teams with a maximum of three members per team.

The Financial Technologies Competition does not limit its goals to enabling participants to acquire technical information and develop project creation skills. It also aims to foster multidimensional competencies such as entrepreneurship teamwork problem solving effective presentation and communication. This competition plays a importance supply role in enhancing Türkiye’s capacity to produce domestic solutions in the field of financial technologies and assumes a strategic role in supporting projects that can contribute to the digital economy vision.