TEKNOFEST 2025: Future Technologies Shaping the Present

From May 1 to 4, TEKNOFEST 2025 is taking place in Lefkoşa – one of the world’s largest festivals dedicated to aviation, new technologies, and innovation. This year, it brought together over 1,000 participants from 22 countries, reaffirming its commitment to international scientific cooperation and youth-driven initiatives.

The event is organized by the Turkish Technology Team Foundation (T3) and the Ministry of Industry and Technology of Türkiye, in collaboration with public institutions, private companies, and universities. The program covers a wide range of topics – from artificial intelligence and engineering to tourism, education, and sustainable innovation.

Today, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited the festival and emphasized TEKNOFEST’s role as a symbol of technological progress, educational mission, and international partnership.

“I would like to thank each of our young people who brought a strong technological momentum to the TRNC. I especially want you to know that we are proud of you.” He also noted that Türkiye now ranks among the top three countries globally in drone technology and will continue advancing with the same determination and enthusiasm.

“There are a great number of young people at the festival – and they’re not just participating, they’re already shaping the future,” said TEKNOFEST Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar. “TEKNOFEST is a real investment in tomorrow. A child who comes here can touch technology, witness innovation, and find inspiration. A child who sees an aircraft may dream big – and one day, build their own space program. These are the children who will change the world.”

This year, the festival received over 47,000 applications, but only 1,083 participants from 268 teams advanced to the finals. The competitions span six main categories and 13 subfields, including aerospace technologies, robotics, software development, and other high-tech areas.

Unfortunately, no teams from Kazakhstan made it to the finals this year. However, T3 Foundation Chairperson Elvan Kuzucu Hıdır expressed confidence that this will change in the future: “We believe in the potential of Kazakh youth and hope to see more startups and teams at the next TEKNOFEST. Joint events are already being planned, including a visit to Kazakhstan to explore further cooperation,” she noted.

The festival takes place at the former Ercan Airport site, where 116 booths are set up: 81 from partners, 11 from sponsors, 4 from participating institutions, and 20 food service areas. Guests can observe demo flights of Turkish drones and aviation technologies including Bayraktar AKINCI, Bayraktar TB2, HÜRKUŞ, ANKA, AKSUNGUR, the ATAK helicopter, and air shows by the Turkish Stars and SOLOTÜRK. The festival’s slogan is “The only festival flying above the ground” – and here, that is quite literal.

First held in 2018, TEKNOFEST has evolved from a national event into a global movement that inspires youth and builds confidence in the potential of local technologies. It has become a symbol of belief in a just and prosperous technological future.

In this context, the growing interest in Turkish defense technologies is also worth noting. In 2024, Baykar Defence and Kazakhstan signed an agreement to localize the production of drones and munitions – a major milestone in strategic technological cooperation between Türkiye and Central Asian nations.

TEKNOFEST 2025 is more than just a showcase of technology – it is a symbol of unity between science, education, and the drive for progress. It proves that the future truly begins today.