The opening of the International Space Congress, organized by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and with the platinum sponsorship of the Turkish Space Agency (TUA), in which the T3 Foundation, which has stood out with its successful projects throughout Türkiye, participated on a global scale, took place today in Baku with the participation of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. President Aliyev expressed his honor in hosting such an event in his speech during the event.

The opening ceremony of the congress, which also featured the Türkiye Technology Team Foundation, an organization dedicated to bringing science and technology to every corner of Türkiye with the goal of "Creating a Technologically Advanced Türkiye" and connecting curious and exploratory children with science, included a performance by Mark Eliyahu.

During the 74th International Space Congress, which will continue in Baku from October 2nd to October 6th, the T3 Foundation, with its own booth, brought 500 competitors who had previously participated in TEKNOFEST projects to the space congress. On the opening day, Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the T3 Foundation and also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of TEKNOFEST, visited the foundation's booth and provided support to the young representatives of TEKNOFEST who were representing our country in Baku.

Within the scope of TEKNOFEST Technology competitions, the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Competition, Rocket Competition, Model Satellite Competition, Vertical Landing Rocket Competition, Jet Engine Design Competition, Helicopter Design Competition, Flying Car Competition, and the TEKNOFEST Startup competition, which was held for the first time in Ankara, have been selected from themes including Education Technologies, Space, Aviation and Defense Technologies, Transportation and Mobility Technologies, Agricultural Technologies, Communication and Correspondace Technologies, and Disaster Management Technologies. These 500 competitors and entrepreneurial young people who have become finalists and winners are representing our country at the congress.

At booth number 414 in the exhibition area, the T3 Foundation provides information to visitors about 12 different projects developed and implemented in the fields of science and technology, including TEKNOFEST, Deneyap, T3 Girişim Merkezi, Keşif Kampüsü, and T3 Akademi. Additionally, they offer a VR goggle activity to give visitors a sense of the depths of space and provide the TEKNOFEST experience.

Furthermore, several technology competitions have evolved into ventures, and they are showcasing their projects at the T3 Foundation booth. These include NOVART SAVUNMA, which has developed a hybrid rocket engine; HELLO SPACE, which launched the first test pocket satellite "İstanbul" into space using SpaceX's Falcon9 rocket; MODEL HAVACILIK VE UZAY TEKNOLOJİLERİ, which has developed a model rocket kit for use in children's workshops; İPEK YOLU ROKET Team, which participated in the Rocket competition since 2018 and is now working on commercial avionics card production; SELÇUK KAPSÜL HYPERLOOP Team, which participated in the first-ever TEKNOFEST competition in 2022 with the next-generation transportation technology, the hyperloop vehicle; CERVOS 7B Team, which achieved outstanding success in the Model Satellite competition and won awards; and İTÜNOM İHA Team, which became champions in both national and international Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) competitions. These teams have the opportunity to showcase their projects and products on the international stage at the T3 Foundation booth.

The International Astronautical Congress (IAC), which is an important event bringing together all global space actors, hosts over 6,000 participants every year. Covering all aspects and sectors of the space industry, this program provides academia and industry with the latest space knowledge and developments, networking opportunities, and the chance to connect with individuals and potential partnerships.

The International Astronautical Congress changes its host country, theme, and local organizer each year, allowing everyone to gain more insights into the world of space and become a part of this global stage.

This year, the 74th edition of the IAC will take place in Baku, and the Türkiye Technology Team Foundation and TEKNOFEST youth will represent our country in the best possible way.