Bilkent University’s National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM) brought together dozens of Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO) member organizations from diverse industries at the event entitled “The Future of Industry: Innovative Technologies and Strategic Partnerships.” The event was hosted by the ASO on April 3, 2026.
In the opening remarks, the critical role of academia-industry collaboration within the defense industry ecosystem was emphasized, highlighting the need for strong partnerships to enable sustainable, high value-added production.
As part of the program, UNAM Research Infrastructure Manager Özgür Yıldırım delivered a presentation entitled “UNAM’s Boundary-Pushing Research Infrastructure” where he introduced UNAM’s advanced research capabilities, interdisciplinary approach, and innovative solutions contributing to the defense industry. He underscored the significant role of UNAM’s infrastructure and expertise in enabling the development of cutting-edge technologies in strategic sectors.
Subsequently, Dr. Nursev Erdoğan from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) and Dr. Mehmet Civan from ROKETSAN shared their experiences on joint projects carried out with UNAM, highlighting the tangible outcomes and added value generated through academia–industry collaboration. The discussion emphasized that such collaborations are not only critical for technological advancement but are also strategically vital for enhancing national competitiveness.
During the interactive session, participants had the opportunity to explore prospective future opportunities for collaboration. With contributions from experts across disciplines, new project ideas and potential partnership areas were discussed.
