Teknopark Istanbul Showcases Its Innovative Ecosystem at SAHA EXPO
Teknopark Istanbul, which houses leading companies in the defense industry, participated in SAHA EXPO, organized by SAHA Istanbul, Europe’s largest industrial cluster, and a key partner of Teknopark Istanbul. The technopark hosted six startups at its stand and contributed as both an organizer and a strong participant with a total of 54 companies under its roof.
The International Defense, Aerospace, and Space Industry Fair (SAHA EXPO), organized by SAHA Istanbul, took place at the Istanbul Expo Center (IFM). Held under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey and supported by six ministries and the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), the fair attracted 1,478 companies from over 120 countries.
At Teknopark Istanbul’s booth, groundbreaking technologies and products were showcased by six companies:
Blitz Teknoloji, which develops imaging systems for manned and unmanned aerial, land, and naval vehicles, as well as for border surveillance and weapon systems.
Avikon, specializing in high-quality software solutions for the defense industry.
Idealab İnovasyon, focused on designing, prototyping, and testing turbo machinery and gas turbine systems.
RFT Araştırma & Repel, which collaborates on Turkey’s first domestic and national “Secure Hardware and Smartphone Project.”
LTC İnovasyon, offering innovative robotic solutions for defense, industrial security, and customer services.
Bottobo Robotik, a leading producer of autonomous mobile robots in Turkey, Europe, and the Middle East.
"Collaboration Is Key to Our Growth"
Speaking about the fair, Teknopark Istanbul General Manager Prof. Dr. Abdurrahman Akyol highlighted the significant role SAHA Istanbul plays in advancing Turkey's technology ecosystem. “Since the first SAHA EXPO in 2018, Teknopark Istanbul has actively participated with its Technology Transfer Office, R&D, Incubation Center teams, and innovative companies. This year, we proudly represented 54 companies. Teknopark Istanbul hosts 483 companies and startups focused on R&D across fields such as defense, aerospace, software, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology. This includes both well-established companies and emerging startups within our ecosystem."
Prof. Dr. Akyol emphasized the importance of horizontal growth within the defense industry ecosystem:
“In the past, a single firm would produce all components of a product. Today, different parts and services are sourced from various subcontractors, fostering collaborative growth. We see similar partnerships developing within Teknopark Istanbul, leading to successful outcomes. Through our 'power of collaboration' manifesto, we aim to encourage more firms to focus on R&D and local production, creating greater value for our country."
Expanding Capacity to Welcome New Companies
Acknowledging the high demand for space in Teknopark Istanbul, Prof. Dr. Akyol announced the expansion of office facilities:
“Despite our high occupancy rates, we’ve taken steps to increase capacity and create new office spaces designed to meet diverse needs. This allows us to bring in more firms, including those capable of serving as subcontractors for leading companies in Turkey.”
Protecting Intellectual Property Rights
Prof. Dr. Akyol also underscored the importance of protecting intellectual property (IP) rights as a critical mission for technoparks:
“As of now, Teknopark Istanbul has supported 433 projects, including 117 international patents, 259 national patents, 37 industrial designs, and 20 utility models. Moreover, for the fourth consecutive year, we have been ranked first among technoparks with patented startups in the 2023 Turkey Patent Report by Patent Effect. Safeguarding the products of our resident companies is one of our top priorities."
SAHA EXPO's Impact
SAHA EXPO facilitated the promotion of domestic and national technologies on a global scale, hosting over 100,000 visitors and facilitating 25,000 one-on-one meetings. During the five-day event, 133 agreements were signed, further strengthening Turkey's technological footprint.
