From Nanocrystals for Display Technologies to Nanocomposites for National Aircraft, A1-PLATFORM is Developing High Value-Added Advanced Material Technologies
TUSAŞ, Vestel and Şişecam, the leading industrial organizations of Turkey, and Bilkent University, Eskişehir Technical University, Abdullah Gül University and TOBB ETU, which are among the most competent academic institutions in Turkey, came together as the executive institutions of the A1-PLATFORM under the leadership of the National Nanotechnology Research Center – UNAM, the A1-PLATFORM program manager, to develop qualified knowledge, global products and domestic production within the scope of national superordinate goals and policies.
TÜBİTAK is funding the A1-PLATFORM with a support of over 60 million TL within the scope of 1004 – Center of Excellence Support Program. Among the A1-PLATFORM, Turkey’s leading institutions, TUSAŞ, Vestel and Şişecam and Turkey’s outstanding academic institutions UNAM, Bilkent University, ESTÜ, AGÜ and TOBB ETÜ are sharing their competencies and working together for Turkey to develop critical advanced material technologies.
Bilkent University National Nanotechnology Research Center – UNAM, with its “National Research Infrastructure” identity, aims to support Turkey’s competitiveness in the global arena by producing useful and impactful knowledge for science with high impact-value, high-value-added technology and innovation; to create not only economical but also social benefits for Turkey and to build qualified R&D workforce; and also to develop profound technology for globally competitive productization with the strength of university-industry collaborations.
Concordantly, UNAM unremittedly works in close cooperation with Turkey’s important industrial establishments and academic institutions. Thus, UNAM carries out projects in various fields arising from the culture of working together. TÜBİTAK 1004-Center of Excellence Support Program, supported by TÜBİTAK and managed by UNAM is one of the most important of these enterprises. This program, which the preparation phase took two and has almost 20 contributors and supporter shareholders, including TUSAŞ, Şişecam, Vestel, Bilkent University, AGÜ, ESTÜ and TOBB ETÜ has started their work at the beginning of this year. During the program, which will last four years, it is aimed to increase the technology readiness level of these technologies from 3, 4, 5 to 6, 7, 8, 9, and accordingly, to bring these high value-added technologies to Turkey for domestic and national production.
Additionally, it is aimed to provide common and versatile benefits at every stage of the technological achievements of all institutions included in the program for the development of unique products in their own sectors. Within the program, 5 main technology groups are gained. These are Nanomaterials, Transparencies, Structurals, Avionics Displays and High-Tech Glass technology groups. For instance, together with TAI, technology gains will be carried out for both the structural parts and the transparent parts of the canopy of Hürjet, while at the same time, specific inputs will be provided for both Vestel’s display technologies applications and the avionics display of the National Aircraft, with the quantum material technologies developed at UNAM. On the other hand, studies on advanced glass technologies will serve to develop the final products of both Şişecam and Vestel.
A wide range of technologies that will be developed within the TÜBİTAK 1004-Center of Excellence Support Program for four years with A1 team stakeholders will be developed and produced as value-added high-tech products for various industries, including the defence industry, durable consumer products, electronics, and glass, and will make a direct contribution to Turkey’s economy.
