The 60th anniversary of TÜBİTAK, the flagship of science and technology in Turkey, was celebrated with a glorious ceremony. Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, Presidential Strategy and Budget Head İbrahim Şenel, Deputy Ministers, Heads of Institutions and members of the Science, Technology and Innovation Policies Board attended the ceremony hosted by TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal at the Feza Gürsey Conference Hall in TÜBİTAK Headquarters. Former Presidents of TÜBİTAK Prof. Dr. Sümer Şahin, Prof. Dr. Sadık Kakaç and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cezmi Güner Omay were also present at the ceremony.

 

"TÜBİTAK strengthened the country's research capabilities and took the first steps of the infrastructure of the science, technology and R&D ecosystem"

Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, in his speech at the ceremony held at TÜBİTAK for the 60th anniversary of its foundation, said that the institution pioneered the science and technology ecosystem with its innovative and entrepreneurial approach. Emphasizing that TÜBİTAK has taken the first steps in the infrastructure of the science, technology and R&D ecosystem by strengthening the country's research capabilities, Kacır said that the institution is the flag bearer of the "National Technology Move". Kacır stated that the successful realization of the "National Technology Move" would be possible only by becoming a country that develops technology rather than consuming it, and by having a strong, technologically leading and competent industry. For this reason, Kacır stated that they have increased R&D and innovation capabilities through TÜBİTAK industry support programs, and on the other hand, they have ensured that the private sector embraces the R&D culture and develops technology and innovation-oriented projects. Kacır said: "We increased the number of supported projects from 386 in 2002 to 3,669 in 2022, and the amount of support from 712 million liras to 1.7 billion liras in today's figures. Since 2002, we have provided more than 57 billion liras of support to 24,202 projects in total. Since 2012, we have provided 1.23 billion liras of support to 2,140 entrepreneurs. Within the scope of our Venture Capital Support Program Tech-InvesTR, we invested in 73 different initiatives with 5 Tech-InvesTR funds, and the total investment amount exceeded 1 billion 300 million liras."

 

Kacır informed that the number of projects within the scope of support programs for academia and the public sector increased more than 5 times from 781 projects in 2002 to 4,129 in 2022, and that they increased the amount of support provided from 133 million liras to over 3.5 billion liras.

 

TÜBİTAK offers solutions in health and efficient production methods

Stating that the research supported by TÜBİTAK will continue to provide solutions for a more sustainable world, better health services, more efficient production methods and a fairer society, Kacır said, "In the coming period, we will strengthen the position of our country in the world in priority R&D and innovation issues, artificial intelligence, big data and cloud computing, cyber security, biotechnological drugs, engine technologies, advanced materials and semiconductors, advanced photonics and quantum technologies with different support and financing mechanisms and ensure the establishment of the scientific basis in key technologies." Minister Kacır noted that they will make the country the pioneer of the green transformation with R&D and innovation studies in the fields of environment and biodiversity, circular economy, clean, accessible and secure energy supply, green and sustainable agriculture, sustainable smart transportation in line with the European Green Deal and climate change. Emphasizing that they attribute a special value to TÜBİTAK, Kacır made the following assessment: "In the Turkey of the future, TÜBİTAK will continue to play a pioneering role tomorrow as it does today. Together with TÜBİTAK, which works for a fully independent and prosperous Turkey, we will deepen Turkey's expertise in critical research areas in line with the vision of the National Technology Move. We will continue to support the commercialization of research results and the transformation of our entrepreneurs' ideas into products on the path to global leadership. We will give more weight to high-tech platforms and industrial innovation networks created with the active participation of all actors of our country's R&D and innovation ecosystems. We will continue to bring science and technology together with all segments of society through science centers, Deneyap workshops, TEKNOFESTs and publications. We are determined to make the 'Century of Turkey' the century of science, digitalization, production and development. In the 'Century of Turkey', God willing, we will reach all our goals and raise our country above the level of contemporary civilizations."

 

Reminding that the first national communication satellite Türksat 6A was also developed by TÜBİTAK UZAY, Kacır said, "The tests took a little longer, but we have received the promise. Hopefully, in March 2024, we will successfully send Türksat 6A into space like İMECE."

 

"The cooperation and work of the Ministry of National Education with TÜBİTAK has a very deep and meaningful place in the construction of the Turkish Century"

In his speech at the ceremony, Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin made evaluations on the cooperation between the Ministry of National Education and TÜBİTAK. Stating that TÜBİTAK, which was established in the 40th year of the Republic, focused on the areas of work needed at that time, Tekin emphasized that in its 60th year of establishment, it has followed a line of progress worthy of its name, shaping itself according to the requirements of the age.

 

Minister Tekin thanked the officials representing TÜBİTAK for transforming the institution into a bureaucratically modern mechanism. Pointing out that TÜBİTAK also has a structure in which different scientific studies are produced, Tekin emphasized the importance of studies carried out in fields such as health, nuclear sciences and space.

 

Stating that a young man used the phrase "Everyone from 7 to 70" in the organization's promotional video, Tekin said, "The 7 part there refers to our Ministry. Therefore, as the starting point of TÜBİTAK, we are perhaps the ministry that should work most intensively with TÜBİTAK in terms of the spread of both scientific ethics, scientific culture and scientific working methodology in Turkey."

 

Giving the message that they will strengthen the relationship between TÜBİTAK and the Ministry of National Education, Tekin stated that he wanted to declare this as a commitment and said: "As the Ministry, we are open to any kind of activity and work we can do with TÜBİTAK. In the 100th anniversary of the Republic, our President appeared before the public with a very challenging discourse. We believe that the next century will be the Century of Turkey and we are making efforts for this. As a ministry, we believe that if we are going to build the Turkish Century, one of the most fundamental parameters will be the Ministry of National Education. If we are going to build it on science, the cooperation and work that the Ministry of National Education will carry out with TÜBİTAK has a very deep and meaningful place in the construction of Turkey's Century."

 

"We are aware of the task undertaken by TÜBİTAK"

Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, President of TÜBİTAK, said: "Today, we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of TÜBİTAK, of which I am proud to be a member and work, and of which I am still the President of the institution, on the 100th anniversary of the foundation of our Republic. On behalf of both myself and my institution, I would like to thank all of you, especially our esteemed ministers, for being with us on this important, honorable and exciting day."

 

"Sixty years is easy to say. For sixty years in the centennial history of the Republic of Turkey, TÜBİTAK has been one of the most important institutions in the establishment of the science and technology system." Emphasizing that they are aware of TÜBİTAK's role both when we look back over the past 60 years and when we talk about the vision of Turkey for the future, when we talk about a fully independent Turkey, Mandal said: "For the past 60 years, TÜBİTAK has played an important role in the production of science-based knowledge in Turkey, the realization of technology-based innovations, and the development of critical and strategic technologies that our country needs. But what is much more important than these is the training of human resources, scientists, researchers and developmental human resources, which is the most critical power for both the production of knowledge, the development of technology and the production of these products. TÜBİTAK is the first one that comes to mind here and we are aware of this."

 

Prof. Dr. Mandal said, "We are well aware of our responsibility for Turkey to become one of the developed countries in the world. When we look towards the future, TÜBİTAK has really touched so many people and has been involved in knowledge production and technology development that I think it is one of the best examples in the world."

 

"When we look at our work with the mission of Fully Independent Turkey, our duty is much more than in the past"

Giving examples from his own career, Mandal said: "I completed my PhD with TÜBİTAK. I carried out my research projects with TÜBİTAK support. Dozens of researchers and scientists I have trained are also thanks to the support I received from TÜBİTAK. And as an international scientist, I was recognized thanks to the incentive and science awards I received from TÜBİTAK. Thousands and tens of thousands of researchers, scientists and entrepreneurs like me have taken a step in terms of science, technology and innovation in our country in the past sixty years through TÜBİTAK, and contributed to this country."

 

"When we look to the future, when we look to the Turkish Century, when we look at our work with the mission of Fully Independent Turkey, our duty is much more than in the past. Because the knowledge produced in the past is very valuable in combating the difficulties we are talking about today. But there is a need for human resources in the solution of these more complex and dynamic problems, in the production of innovative knowledge and the development of technology." Mandal said, "It is not just about answering the what question. It will be very important not only to answer the question of why, but also to answer the question of how. In this sense, I would like to state that our duty in this sense has turned into a responsibility at the same time as our excitement. And we think that it will be valuable to achieve together by working together more, learning together more, and achieving together, which we have been saying all the time in the recent period. In other words, we know that today's problems will lead to much more difficult processes and difficult problems than all processes from defense to security, from health to food, from energy to transportation. Because when we look at these difficult problems, the need for science-based solutions is much greater." He also used the expressions.

 

"In the future, Turkey's power will be in TÜBİTAK through science and technology"

"During the pandemic period, a truly exemplary process was managed under the leadership of our President. The respirator developed was the best example of the COVID-19 Turkey platform," Mandal said, referring to the concepts of science and urgency, "Science and urgency are essentially two contrasting concepts. While science prefers to solve problems in the medium and long term, today's challenges and problems are expected to be solved in the shorter term. Therefore, in order to manage these concepts of science and urgency simultaneously, we need to find the question of how as well as the question of why. I think this is important for our country in the Turkish Century, for a fully independent Turkey in all areas."

 

Pointing out that the dimension of diplomacy is now based on science and technology, Mandal said, "When we think of Turkey, I think it is much more critical that this cooperation and cooperation is based on science and technology, in addition to the services provided by Turkey. And in this respect, the duty of TÜBİTAK will be at a much more valuable point."

 

Prof. Dr. Mandal said, "I would like to thank all those who have worked for TÜBİTAK for 60 years, all my colleagues who have retired, my colleagues who have completed 25 years in the institution and still continue their valuable services, all our scientists and friends who have contributed to this institution in the past, but most importantly, I would like to thank our President and Minister, who have supported us especially in the last twenty years and who have always expressed that they are always with us. In the future, Turkey's power will be in TÜBİTAK, it will be with science and technology. Turkey's accumulation will be through science and technology and TÜBİTAK."

 

"It is a great chance for a 91-year-old to be present at the 60th anniversary of TÜBİTAK"

After his speech, Prof. Dr. Mandal said, "He is a veteran of this institution, our elder. He is also a member of TÜBA. Sadık Kakaç, who served as the Secretary General of TÜBİTAK in 1975-76, which was the highest representation point of TÜBİTAK at that time," and invited former TUBITAK President Prof. Dr. Sadık Kakaç to the stage. Prof. Dr. Kakaç delivered a speech that touched the audience, "It is a great chance for a 91-year-old to be present at the 60th anniversary of TUBITAK. I would like to thank Mr. Mehmet, the Minister of Industry and Technology, very much. I would like to pay my respects. Also, Mr. President of TÜBİTAK and also a member of TÜBA, our friend is very important."

 

Pointing to the importance of TÜBİTAK, Kakaç said, "It is the lifeblood of Turkey."

Kakaç said, "I come from a family from Çorum, from the middle of Anatolia. In that respect, I always say that I am a student of the Republic of Turkey because I owe everything to the Republic of Turkey." He noted that he reached these days by studying under difficult conditions.

 

Describing the time he was assigned to TÜBİTAK, Kakaç said, "When I was a young man, I was the president of the Turkish Atomic Energy and a member of the Scientific Board of TÜBİTAK. They would tell me, Mr. Sadık, to fulfill this task. Therefore, these were small services to TÜBİTAK. We served as the president of TÜBİTAK."

 

"When I look at my friends and former students, I feel proud. Therefore, our country is in good hands," said Mr. Kakaç, emphasizing, "Despite my age, I am always with young people."

 

"I give my classes. They say, "Sadık Hodja has a flaw. He protects female students". Friends, the foundation of everything is intelligent women. What is everything? I lost my late husband two years ago and I owe everything to him." Kakaç caused everyone in the hall to smile and received great applause from the hall.

 

A story from BİDEB scholarship to working at TÜBİTAK

After thanking Prof. Dr. Kakaç, the President of TÜBİTAK invited Neslihan Nur Özadam, one of the youngest employees of TÜBİTAK, to the stage.

Özadam, who started working at TÜBİTAK last March, told his life story from following magazines such as Meraklı Minik and Bilim Çocuk to becoming a BİDEB scholarship holder.

 

"When I won the scholarship, I still feel my excitement and happiness like it was yesterday. Of course, our institution did not only support us financially. Hasan Hodja held a meeting with the scholarship winners and addressed us with a speech saying "you are a part of the TÜBİTAK family". Winning a scholarship as a result of our efforts was one thing, but being congratulated by the head of the institution that gave us this scholarship was another. " and shared his excitement.

 

"Today, I am proud to be working with you in this institution, which has been able to enter and even direct the life of a little girl who was excited about gifts 10 years ago, on her way to her youth, where she set her goals." Özadam concluded his words by expressing his pride and happiness to be a part of the TÜBİTAK family.

 

Plaques given to veterans, 60th anniversary cake cut

Following the speeches, plaques were presented to experienced TÜBİTAK employees and retirees who have completed 25 years at TÜBİTAK.

 

After the plaques were presented, the program continued in the courtyard, followed by a cocktail accompanied by music. During the cocktail reception, Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, President of TÜBİTAK, cut the special 60th anniversary cake together with Ahmet Yozgatlıgil, Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology. Then, a choir consisting of TÜBİTAK employees sang selected pieces of Turkish music.

 

On the occasion of the 60th Anniversary, the photo exhibition "TÜBİTAK from Past to Present" was also opened. For 60 years, TUBITAK has been the pioneer of science and technology, and the photo exhibition shedding light on the past of TUBITAK can be visited for two weeks at the TUBITAK Headquarters building.