TEKNOFEST Technology for the Benefit of Humanity Competition

TEKNOFEST Technology for Humanity is an important technology competition that encourages individuals to develop innovative projects that benefit society by integrating technological skills with social responsibility. Organized under the leadership of the Türkiye Technology Team Foundation (T3 Vakfı) and the Ministry of Industry and Technology, this competition within the TEKNOFEST framework aims to ensure that technology is used to directly improve human life.

The primary objective of the competition is to motivate individuals to act with a sense of social responsibility by applying their technological knowledge and skills to develop solutions for societal challenges. Utility, societal benefit, and improving quality of life are the core goals of the competition. Projects that address health and disaster management issues in economically and technologically disadvantaged regions are especially encouraged; the aim is for these projects to be original, innovative, and implemented using national resources.

^{TEKNOFEST Technology for Humanity Competition (Photo: T3 Vakfı)}

The Technology for Humanity Competition is organized under two main categories:

This category aims to build a more resilient society in the face of natural disasters frequently experienced in Türkiye such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, rockfalls, avalanches, and human-induced threats including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear hazards and industrial accidents. Participants are expected to develop technological solutions that raise disaster awareness, support volunteer systems, reduce loss of life and property, minimize economic damage, and can be applied across all phases of disaster management.

This category focuses on improving public health and promoting innovation in the healthcare sector.

Project topics include emergency healthcare technologies, telehealth services, health monitoring devices, artificial intelligence-supported health applications, health education and awareness solutions, and robotic healthcare systems. Participants are expected to develop innovative solutions to challenges in the healthcare field.

^{TEKNOFEST Technology for Humanity Competition (Photo: T3 Vakfı)}

All middle school, high school, university students and graduates from Türkiye and abroad may participate. Applications at the graduate level must be submitted by teams representing companies or startups, not individuals. Each team may consist of no more than six members. High school teams may only include high school students, while university and higher-level teams may only include members from their own level.

The competition consists of the following stages:

1. Project Preliminary Evaluation Form: Participants submit a summary form of their project to enter the preliminary evaluation.
2. Semi-Final – Project Presentation: Teams that pass the preliminary round present their projects online for evaluation by the jury.
3. Final – Prototype and Presentation: Teams that reach the final present their prototypes to complete the evaluation process.

All application, evaluation, and communication processes are conducted through the KYS (Registration Management System). Each team must designate a communication officer. All notifications are sent exclusively to this person’s email address. Submissions of reports, requests for financial support, and changes in team membership must be carried out solely through the system and within the specified deadlines. Teams must apply to the appropriate category and upload their preliminary evaluation report on time. Teams that fail to complete this step will be disqualified from the competition.

^{TEKNOFEST Technology for Humanity Competition (Photo: T3 Vakfı)}

Limited travel and accommodation support is provided to teams qualifying for the final to attend the festival area. Each team may receive support for up to three people including the advisor. This number may be adjusted by the TEKNOFEST Competitions Committee. The committee also reserves the right to limit the number of participants allowed into the festival area. Such adjustments will be announced prior to the competition.

The Technology for Humanity Competition does not aim only to cultivate individuals with technical expertise but also to foster ethical, empathetic individuals who generate social benefit. The projects developed make visible the direct contribution of technology to human life in alignment with Türkiye’s National Technology Initiative vision. This competition serves as a platform where technological advancement meets societal benefit, offering young entrepreneurs and inventors the opportunity to think about, develop, and implement solutions to real-world problems.