Speaking at the opening of Akdeniz University Antalya Technopark R&D 5 Building Office and the TAI National Combat Aircraft R&D Office, The Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank said, "The National Combat Aircraft Project will gain altitude from Antalya."

Antalya Technopark R&D 5 Building and TAI National Combat Aircraft R&D Office were opened with the participation of the Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank at Akdeniz University. In addition to the Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank, Rector of Akdeniz University Prof. Dr. Özlenen Özkan, General Manager of Antalya Technopark Dr. İbrahim Yavuz, General Manager of TAI Prof. Dr. Temel Kotil, Antalya Deputies Mustafa Köse, Kemal Çelik, İbrahim Aydın, the Chairman of TÜBİTAK Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, Vice Rectors of Akdeniz University Prof. Dr. Murat Turhan, Prof. Dr. Gülbin Arıcı, Prof Dr. Cengiz Toker, Mayor of Kepez Hakan Tütüncü, chamber presidents, academics, and students attended. The ceremony, which started with the opening of Antalya Technopark R&D 5 Building Office and TAI National Combat Aircraft R&D Office, continued with the signing ceremony of the National Combat Aircraft R&D and Design Center Field Allocation between Antalya Technopark and TAI.

An Important Partnership to set an Example for the Industry

The Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank said, "TAI, one of the leading institutions of the defense industry, and Antalya Technopark, which has an important place in Turkey's R&D ecosystem, came together for an important union that will set an example for the sector. One of the most important projects conducted by TAI, which has been successful in the field of the defense industry, space, and aerospace, was the National Combat Aircraft Project, which is a critical topic for Turkey, and the leg of the project has been moved to Antalya with the contract signed here."

Antalya will be a Center of Attraction for Software and Engineers

Emphasizing that the design and software works of the National Combat Aircraft Project will be carried out in Antalya with the R&D center to be established here, Minister Varank said that Antalya is one of the most beautiful cities in Turkey with its tourism, climate, and social opportunities and that Antalya will be an important center of attraction for software developers and engineers from all over the world. Stating that Antalya Technopark has powerful companies operating in different fields from agriculture to tourism, from informatics to electronics, Minister Varank said, "Antalya Technopark is the 8th most successful technopark in Turkey according to the Technopark performance index. In our technopark, which hosts 162 companies, 800 R&D projects have been completed. Also, more than 200 projects are ongoing. Antalya Technopark will strengthen TAI with its deep-rooted history, location, and strong R&D ecosystem. Hopefully, the National Combat Aircraft Project will gain altitude from Antalya."

Our goal is to make Antalya a Technology Center

The Rector of Akdeniz University, who said that an essential signature was signed today, Prof. Dr. Özlenen Özkan, said, "We are in the days when we all see together how important the defense industry is. The important thing is that all of this is done by us, not to be dependent on the outside. We all saw the consequences of being dependent on the outside. The importance given by our President and Minister of Industry is precious. With this center, I think our university will also gain momentum. As our minister said, Antalya is a tourism, agriculture, and health center, but our next biggest goal is to make it a software and technology center. Antalya is an ideal city for this. Our Minister and TAI have great support. It is precious to our students and our city. I think it will be good."

Employment to Students

TAI General Manager Prof. Dr. Temel Kotil said that Antalya is the city with the most international connection after Istanbul and that it will be not only tourism but also a future of scientists and technology. "As TAI, we see Antalya as a new center. We will employ young engineers and students from our university here. We also bring in experienced scientists and engineers from abroad. First of all, 80 people are starting employment, and the building is completed, it will increase to 400 people. I wish you good luck," he added.

After the signing ceremony, the Antalya Technopark R&D 5 Building and the TAI National Combat Aircraft R&D Offices were visited. Speaking with students working in offices, Minister Varank said that students will always be supported by getting information about their projects. The students also expressed that they were happy to have the opportunity to study and prepare for the sector in Antalya Technopark.

Before the opening ceremony, Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank visited Akdeniz University Rector Prof. Dr. Özlenen Özkan in her office. TAI General Manager Prof. Dr. Temel Kotil, Antalya Deputies Mustafa Köse, Kemal Çelik, İbrahim Aydın, Antalya Bilim University Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Yüksek also took part in the visit.