TEKNOFEST Blue Homeland, one of the most concrete steps of the National Technology Initiative vision in the maritime sector, will bring together technology enthusiasts at the Gölcük Shipyard Command between August 20-23. Organized under the main leadership of the Turkish Ministry of National Defense and the Turkish Technology Team Foundation (T3 Foundation), this massive event brings together Turkey’s maritime power, defense industry capabilities, and innovative projects of young people under one roof. Following last year’s highly successful event in Istanbul, this year’s event is taking place in Gölcük, considered the heart of Turkish maritime history.

• Date and Location: The festival is taking place between August 20-23 at the Gölcük Shipyard Command, one of the most critical centers of the Turkish Naval Forces.

• Featured Competitions: Unmanned Underwater Systems, Underwater Rocket and Unmanned Marine Vehicle competitions are being held, and projects by young engineers are being exhibited.

• Field Experiences: Visitors will have the opportunity to tour naval vessels; We are witnessing breathtaking shows by SAT, SAS and naval aviation units.

The Future of Maritime Technologies is Taking Shape in the Hands of Young People

TEKNOFEST Blue Homeland goes beyond being just a stand or exhibition area; it is a giant arena where young people transform their ideas into concrete projects. The competitions held within the scope of the festival directly contribute to the goal of completely ending Turkey’s dependence on foreign countries in underwater and surface technologies.

Three main competition categories stand out in the events to be held in Gölcük:

• Unmanned Underwater Systems Competition: A critical track where autonomous and remotely controlled underwater vehicles perform powerful missions.

• Underwater Rocket Competition: A competition that combines underwater physics with rocket technology and pushes the boundaries of engineering.

• Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) Competition: A category showcasing surface autonomous vehicles that can perform swarm missions in the future for the security of the Blue Homeland.

The prototypes produced in these competitions form the basis of tomorrow’s domestic and national defense industry products. Young engineering students have the opportunity to test the vehicles they produce directly in a military shipyard environment.

Naval Ships Open to Visitors

During the festival, military ships, the pride of the Turkish Naval Forces, are open to the public for visits. In this activity, which aims to instill maritime culture, visitors can closely examine the power of the navy and embark on a journey from the past to the future in special experience areas related to maritime history.

In addition, the elite units of the Turkish Naval Forces, SAT (Underwater Attack), SAS (Underwater Defense), and naval aviation units, perform special shows throughout the festival. These shows showcase military discipline and high training standards.

Virtual Reality and Interactive Experience Areas

The stakeholder institution stands in the event area directly convey the latest technologies of defense industry giants to visitors. Thanks to the virtual reality (VR) game and simulation areas, technology enthusiasts find themselves in the middle of a submarine operation or an unmanned naval vehicle control center. TEKNOFEST Blue Homeland offers an interactive atmosphere that transforms visitors of all ages from passive observers into direct participants in the process.