T3 Foundation

Short, named T3 Foundation, is a civil society organization established in 2016 in Bayrampaşa, in the building where BAYKAR began its UAV projects, by a group of entrepreneurs and professionals under the leadership of Selçuk Bayraktar. It supports the development of Türkiye in the areas of science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. Foundation aims to increase public interest in technology, especially among youth, and to strengthen the country’s capacity to produce technology, pursuing this goal through education and project-based activities.

PROJECTS

ÖZDEMİR BAYRAKTAR NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

T3 Foundation’s first project is the National Technology Scholarship Program, designed to develop human resources that will contribute to Türkiye’s science and technology development processes. Since 2017, the program has provided scholarships of varying amounts to students across Türkiye at primary, secondary and high school levels, alongside various projects and training initiatives. Following the passing of BAYKAR’s founder and honorary president Özdemir Bayraktar in 2021, the scholarship program was renamed the “Özdemir Bayraktar National Technology Scholarship Program”.

T3 ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER

                 The T3 Entrepreneurship Center, where the Foundation’s entrepreneurship-focused programs are implemented, aims to become a leading hub for entrepreneurship and innovation in Türkiye. It delivers entrepreneur development programs and entrepreneurship summit events, and also manages the T3 Entrepreneurship Capital Investment Fund.

DENEYAP TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOPS

                 DENEYAP Technology Workshops, implemented under the Future Technology Stars Program, aim to connect Türkiye’s younger generation with high-quality, free science and technology education. The workshops are designed with a unique curriculum and concept to deliver science and technology education in 11 different fields to middle and high school students. Piloted in Istanbul, the initiative expanded in 2018 across all 81 provinces of Türkiye under the DENEYAP Türkiye brand, with the participation of the Ministry of National Education, the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, TÜBİTAK and T3 Foundation. The free 36-month program provides training over the first two years, with the third year focused on team formation and participation in national and international competitions. As of 2024, more than 130 DENEYAP Technology Workshops operate in all 81 provinces of Türkiye, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Kosovo and Syria, continuing to provide high-quality, free technology education to thousands of students.

SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY TEAMS

                 The Support Program for National Technology Teams provides material and mentoring support to technology teams representing Türkiye in prestigious international technology competitions, aiming to enable talented youth to gain international experience.

TEKNOFEST AVIATION, SPACE AND TECHNOLOGY FESTIVAL

TEKNOFEST is Türkiye’s first and only aviation, space and technology festival, organized with the participation of numerous key stakeholders and institutions playing a critical role in the development of national technology. The inaugural event was held in Istanbul in 2018, followed by editions in Gaziantep, Samsun, Baku, Ankara, İzmir and Adana. The Festival, which hosts the world’s largest and most comprehensive technology competitions, has received over 1,650,000 participant applications across 50 competitions and 128 subcategories. It has held the world record for the highest number of visitors twice: 1,720,000 visitors in Istanbul in 2019 and 2,547,000 visitors in 2023. TEKNOFEST hosts a wide range of activities including air shows, exhibitions of aerospace and defense vehicles, fair and event areas, a virtual reality tunnel, planetarium shows, concerts and special performances. Positioned as the “Festival That Doesn’t Touch the Ground,” TEKNOFEST serves as a social consensus platform for Türkiye’s National Technology Initiative.

NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE

                 The National Technology Initiative brand, owned by T3 Foundation, encompasses all values underlying the Foundation’s vision and all efforts aimed at enhancing Türkiye’s scientific and technological self-reliance. With adoption by various institutions including the Ministry of Industry and Technology’s 2023 Industry and Technology Strategy Document, the National Technology Initiative has become a national strategic brand of the Republic of Türkiye.

TAKE OFF ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUMMIT

                 The Take Off Entrepreneurship Summit, organized by the T3 Entrepreneurship Center under the TEKNOFEST umbrella, is an entrepreneurship event aimed at developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem both in Türkiye and globally. The summit, recognized as the region’s largest entrepreneurship event, brings together entrepreneurs, investors, mentors and other stakeholders of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Held annually in Istanbul, the Summit was also hosted in Baku in 2022 under the TEKNOFEST Azerbaijan program.

BİLİM ÜSKÜDAR

                 Bilim Üsküdar, Türkiye’s most comprehensive science center, opened in 2018 through the collaboration of T3 Foundation, Üsküdar Municipality and TÜBİTAK. The center, featuring a 14-meter-diameter planetarium, permanent and traveling exhibition units and educational workshops, provides science and technology-focused experiences for visitors of all ages, with a special focus on children aged 6 to 14. T3 Foundation was a lead stakeholder in the project from its inception and continued its involvement until 2024.

BİLİM TÜRKİYE

                 Bilim Türkiye is a science center brand that develops a high-quality educational curriculum and original concepts tailored for children aged 6 to 14, the most effective age group for cultivating science and technology culture. It offers planetarium events accessible to all ages and innovative exhibition units. Bilim Türkiye provides free advisory services to local administrations seeking to establish science centers. The Bilim Türkiye program is currently implemented in 20 science centers across Türkiye, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan.

KEŞİF KAMPÜSÜ

                 Keşif Kampüsü is an educational model for primary and middle school students based on a university framework centered on exploration and inquiry. It integrates science and technology education with personal development training, aiming to enhance students’ academic knowledge while also fostering their social and emotional growth. Three Keşif Kampüsü campuses are currently operational in Samsun and Gaziantep.

DENEYAP CARD

                 The DENEYAP Electronic Development Kit and product family, designed and manufactured in Türkiye using national engineering capabilities, was launched as part of the localization initiative in educational technologies. It is actively used in various educational institutions, especially in DENEYAP Technology Workshops.

T3 AKADEMİ

                 T3 Akademi is an online education platform offering a variety of live and asynchronous interactive courses and certification programs, primarily focused on science, technology and entrepreneurship education. It aims to contribute to lifelong learning for individuals of all ages, from five years old to adults.

T3 AI

                 T3AI is an open-source artificial intelligence model developed for the Turkish language, aiming to overcome language barriers and enable users to interact effectively on a global scale through a user-friendly interface. Development efforts continue through a growing community of volunteers.

T3 Foundation continues its activities to support Türkiye’s vision of leadership in technology and innovation. Through projects that reach all segments of society, the Foundation does not merely aim to boost technology production, but to build a knowledge-based future. These determined efforts position T3 Foundation as an inspirational organization at both national and international levels, contributing to the ideals of technological independence and sustainable development.