TEKNOFEST Excitement in the Sister Nation: Technology and National Spirit Come Together in the TRNC

Hosted at the Former Ercan Airport in Nicosia, the four-day TEKNOFEST TRNC welcomed 225,000 visitors, bringing together technology, science, and national pride. The highly attended festival featured numerous events over the course of four days.

Throughout the action-packed festival, young talents showcased their skills in the technology competition tents. The competitions spanned 6 main categories and 13 subcategories, including the Social Innovation Contest, Flying Car Simulation Contest, and the TEKNOFEST Robolig Blue Homeland Contest. Events catering to all ages such as the Science Street, Space Exhibition, Planetarium, XR Experience Zones, Cyprus Peace Operation Experience Zone, Turkish Resistance Organization National Struggle Exhibition Area, and DENEYAP Workshops were organized throughout the TRNC. Aerial performances by the Turkish Stars, SOLOTÜRK, Bayraktar Akıncı, Bayraktar TB2, Hürkuş, and other aircraft captivated the audience throughout the festival.
 

On the third day of the festival, President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, attended TEKNOFEST and gave a speech on the main stage. Emphasizing the importance of the National Technology Initiative, he stated: “With the TEKNOFEST youth and the works rising across Northern Cyprus, we will continue to be here for centuries to come.”

President Erdoğan also presented awards to the young people who achieved first place in their competitions. He remarked that the festival was more than just an event; it was “a determined step toward the shared future of one nation, two states, one heart.”

The festival at the Former Ercan Airport showcased not only technology but also a nation’s faith, determination, and spirit of unity. As the youth built the future, breathtaking aerial displays inspired national pride. With participation from across the TRNC, the event turned into a full-blown technology mobilization.
 

TEKNOFEST concluded in the TRNC with a grand closing ceremony following four days of extraordinary events. The closing ceremony was filled with moments of pride and celebration.

Attendees included Türkiye’s Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, TRNC President Ersin Tatar, TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, Chairman of the T3 Foundation and TEKNOFEST Board Selçuk Bayraktar, and Türkiye’s Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır.

The speeches at the closing ceremony once again highlighted that TEKNOFEST is not just a festival, but a powerful symbol of a nation’s belief in its shared future.

In his speech at the closing, Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman of the T3 Foundation and the TEKNOFEST Board, said: “TEKNOFEST is not just a technology competition. It is the story of a nation’s awakening. It is where a self-confident generation is being built. This journey won’t be easy; obstacles will arise, but we will never stop. The new destination of this spirit of unity is Istanbul. In September, we will reunite with TEKNOFEST excitement in the heart of the world, Istanbul.”

Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır emphasized that the TRNC has now become a center of production, not merely an observer: “The Turkish Cypriot people are not guests here—they are the rightful hosts of this land. On this land, watered with the blood of our martyrs, we envision the TRNC becoming an information technology hub serving the entire world. TEKNOFEST is the spark of this vision.”

Türkiye’s Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz thanked Selçuk Bayraktar for inspiring the youth and honored the late Özdemir Bayraktar, whose spirit lives on in millions. He also expressed gratitude to TRNC President Ersin Tatar for his contributions to bringing the event to Cyprus and congratulated Prime Minister Ünal Üstel and his team for their hospitality.

The final speech of the closing ceremony was delivered by TRNC President Ersin Tatar. He stated: “We are an inseparable part of the Turkish nation. It is a great honor to host TEKNOFEST in our sister homeland. This festival is not only a source of pride for our youth but for the entire Turkish Cypriot community. Every moment was filled with enthusiasm and conviction.”

Following the speeches, TEKNOFEST TRNC came to a close with an award ceremony for the winning teams and a group photo. The highly anticipated event left a lasting impression as an inspiring celebration of technology and national spirit.