Teknofest, Türkiye's leading technology and aerospace event, opened its 15th edition in Şanlıurfa on September 30. "Teknofest Southeast" will run through October 4, bringing together technology enthusiasts, young entrepreneurs, and thousands of visitors. The event features technology competition finals across 14 categories, aviation shows, exhibitions, and educational workshops.

Domestic defense industry platforms from Baykar, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), and other national manufacturers will be on display. TAI's ATAK, Hürkuş, and ANKA systems alongside Baykar's Bayraktar TB2, TB3, and AKINCI Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) will be presented to visitors, along with land and naval platforms. The event will feature aerobatic demonstrations by SoloTurk and the Turkish Stars teams, as well as fighter jet displays. The opening day program includes a parachute jump, Bayraktar AKINCI UAV flight demonstration, paramotor display, and science shows.

Since its establishment in 2018, Teknofest has played a significant role in developing Türkiye's technology and innovation ecosystem. The event has been held in major cities including Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, as well as in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Azerbaijan. This year's Şanlıurfa edition holds strategic importance for promoting domestic defense industry products and nurturing youth in technology fields. The event includes concerts, stage performances, educational workshops, simulation zones, a planetarium, and science demonstrations.

At the opening ceremony, Baykar Board Chair and Teknofest Board Chair Selçuk Bayraktar emphasized that Teknofest represents a "revolution of self-confidence" and "a major technological movement." Bayraktar noted that the initiative launched in 2018 has evolved into a national technology movement, highlighting participation from all 81 provinces and 97 different countries. He stated that over 730,000 teams and more than 1.6 million young people have applied to technology competitions across 62 different fields, describing these numbers as representing Türkiye's changing story.

In his remarks, Bayraktar referenced Şanlıurfa's historically significant sites such as Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe, stating, "Knowledge, wisdom, and civilization are here. And today, the technology of the future is also here." Emphasizing the importance of the National Technology Initiative, Bayraktar noted that it extends beyond the skies to factories, laboratories, hospitals, workshops, and universities. Highlighting technology's role in empowering societies, Bayraktar presented technological transformation as an opportunity for the country's prosperity and the region's shared future.