TEKNOFEST Accessibility Life Technologies Competition

TEKNOFEST Accessible Living Technologies Competition is a thematic technology competition organized to enhance the quality of life for individuals with special needs, transform technology into social benefit, and encourage the development of National Technology National Technology Initiative vision-aligned original, domestic and national solutions. The competition aims to develop accessible technologies that improve individuals’ independent life skills while also fostering individuals with high social awareness.

TEKNOFEST Accessible Living Technologies Competition (Photo: Akif Yusuf Ekin)

Competition Objective

Aligned with the Ministry of Family and Social Services’ 2030 Accessible Living Vision, the competition is grounded in supporting the rights of individuals with special needs to accessibility in health, inclusive education, transportation, employment and emergency situations. It encourages projects that reduce the challenges these individuals face in their academic, social and professional lives and increase their social participation.

Competition Scope

The Accessible Living Technologies Competition encompasses technological solutions designed to improve the quality of life for individuals with congenital or acquired chronic illnesses, visual and hearing impairments, intellectual and physical disabilities, mental health conditions, autism and other neurodevelopmental differences. The competition includes projects developed in the following areas:

Solutions that facilitate independent performance of daily living activities,

Tools that enhance social interaction and remove communication barriers,

Technologies that support medical monitoring, emergency situation intervention and rehabilitation processes.

In addition, teams that develop projects under the designated “Star Topics” and rank among the top 10 are awarded a prestigious prize.

TEKNOFEST Accessible Living Technologies Competition (Photo: Akif Yusuf Ekin)

Eligibility Criteria

Participants eligible to apply include all sighted individuals in Türkiye and abroad, high school students (including open education), undergraduate and graduate students (preparatory, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral), graduates, graduate-level companies and startups.

Evaluation Process

The competition consists of three main evaluation stages:

Project Preliminary Evaluation Report: The feasibility, originality and applicability of the project idea are assessed.

Project Presentation (Semi-Final): The project’s development status, business plan and social impact are evaluated through presentations.

Prototype and Final Presentation: The developed prototype is scored based on user experience, functionality, accessibility level and final impact potential. Evaluation criteria include innovation, technical proficiency, user-centered design, sustainability and social contribution.

Alignment with the National Technology Initiative

The competition is implemented in alignment with the vision of the National Technology Initiative, supporting Türkiye’s goal of technological independence. The Accessible Living Technologies Competition aims to contribute to Türkiye’s innovation process by developing solutions that enhance the quality of life for individuals with special needs, grounded in social responsibility and human-centered technology. Projects developed by participants serve not only technological but also ethical, social and human values.

TEKNOFEST Accessible Living Technologies Competition (Photo: Akif Yusuf Ekin)

Significance of the Competition

The TEKNOFEST Accessible Living Technologies Competition is a comprehensive platform that brings together individuals from diverse age backgrounds and disciplines to generate solutions that improve the lives of individuals with special needs. By utilizing technology in a human-centered manner to produce social benefit, the competition seeks to advance Türkiye’s goals of social development and technological independence through value innovation.