Rector Karataş: "Our Students’ Success Is One of the Strongest Indicators of ÇAKÜ’s Technology Vision."

Çankırı Karatekin University (ÇAKÜ) achieved significant successes at the TEKNOFEST 2026 Aviation, Space and Technology Festival, organized in line with Türkiye’s National Technology Initiative, securing national championships and top rankings across multiple engineering categories. Demonstrating strong capabilities in technology and inovation fields, ÇAKÜ student teams earned high distinctions in the Smart Factory Systems Programming, Agricultural Technologies, and Unmanned Surface Vehicle competitions

Organized to foster a culture of technological self-reliance, TEKNOFEST provides a platform for young innovators to convert scientific ideas into real-world applications.

Championship in Smart Factory Systems

ÇAKÜ’s NOVA Team won first place in Türkiye in the Smart Factory Systems Programming category (Vocational Skills Competition) for the second consecutive year, repeating its 2025 national victory. 

Designed around Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing standards, the team defended its national championship title from last year, achieving a rare back-to-back victory.

Led by Team Captain Yasin Uğur alongside Computer Engineering students Yunus Emre Bozan and Mert Kaygusuz, under the academic supervision of Dr. Enes Bektaş, NOVA integrated core industrial automation components into a cohesive system. Their project featured a miniature smart production line combining PLC control architecture, HMI operator interfaces, machine vision systems, and autonomous transfer units engineered for next-generation factories.

Yüksek Gerilim Team Secures Second Place in Türkiye

ÇAKÜ achieved further success in the university-level track of the Smart Factory Systems Programming competition through the Yüksek Gerilim Team.

Composed of Faculty of Engineering students Burcu Günaydın and Sudenaz Kurtyemez under the guidance of Dr. Mustafa Teke, the team developed an advanced automation framework tailored for digital factory infrastructures, earning second place nationally with 46.85 points.

Innovative Solution for Sustainable Agriculture: DripLoop

Making waves in eco-friendly technology, Food Engineering students Yağmur Yalçın and Şevval Soysal, mentored by Dr. Didar Üçüncüoğlu, introduced DripLoop under the DripLoop Technologies banner.

Competing in the Agricultural Technologies track, their project, “Development of a PHA-Based Biodegradable Irrigation Hose Produced from Food Waste,” addresses agricultural plastic pollution through circular-economy solutions. 

Standing out for its focus on waste valorization, biodegradable materials, and sustainable agriculture, the project was further developed by the students with the support of their academic advisor, addressing its technical, economic, and feasibility aspects.

The team advanced to the semi-finals after scoring an impressive 88.33 points in preliminary evaluations for its technical feasibility and environmental impact.

ÇAKÜPARS İDA Ranks Third Among 220 Teams

In the Unmanned Surface Vehicle Competition, ÇAKÜ Barbaros Team’s autonomous marine vessel, ÇAKÜPARS İDA, finished third among 220 competing entries in the Critical Design Report (CDR) phase with a score of 96.

Built on a hydrodynamically stable 120-centimeter catamaran hull, the vessel was engineered for autonomous route navigation, dynamic obstacle avoidance, and tactical engagement missions. The hull incorporates a 3D-printed biodegradable PLA core coated with powdered aerogel-infused epoxy resin and glass-fiber composite, achieving maximum structural integrity and water resistance at minimal weight.

Despite experiencing a hardware receiver failure during field video testing, ÇAKÜPARS İDA stood out for its 90 percent domestic manufacturing rate, original Ground Control Station (GCS) software, and innovative material composition.

The vessel will be exhibited live at the festival venue.

ÇAKÜ Welcomes Visitors at TEKNOFEST Şanlıurfa

Marking an institutional milestone, ÇAKÜ is taking part in TEKNOFEST 2026 for the first time as an official academic partner, hosting tech enthusiasts and visitors at Stand E-7 in Şanlıurfa.

The university’s pavilion will feature interactive demonstrations showcasing ÇAKÜ’s growing portfolio in science, engineering, and technological research.

Rector Karataş: “Our Students’ Success Is One of the Strongest Indicators of ÇAKÜ’s Technology Vision”

Commending the student teams and their faculty advisors, ÇAKÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Mevlüt Karataş expressed immense pride in the university's performance:

“Our students’ success is one of the strongest indicators of ÇAKÜ’s technology vision. Their achievements, particularly first and second place, in Türkiye alongside top rankings across multiple categories at TEKNOFEST, an organization driving our nation's innovation agenda, are a source of great pride for us. These awards reflect our students’ drive to create, research, and develop, as well as the support provided by our academics."

Stating that ÇAKÜ is true to its work in science, technology, and innovation with determination, Rector Karataş noted that the university will continue to develop the academic and technical environment required for students to turn their ideas into viable projects.

Rector Karataş added:

“One of our most important goals is to contribute to educating the qualified human resources capable of meeting our country’s needs in line with the National Technology Initiative. Every achievement of our students is also an indication of the steps our university is taking toward this goal. I wholeheartedly congratulate our students, academics, and all our teams who contributed to these achievements, and I wish them continued success.”

Students Drive ÇAKÜ’s Vision for Technology and Innovation

The national championships and top rankings secured by ÇAKÜ students at TEKNOFEST 2026 underscore the university's expanding capabilities in higher education, research, and applied technology.

From smart factory automation and sustainable agricultural solutions to autonomous marine platforms and advanced materials engineering, these student-led projects demonstrate ÇAKÜ’s commitment to bridging theoretical instruction with practical, real-world application.

Moving forward, Çankırı Karatekin University remains dedicated to fostering student innovation, facilitating representation in national and international forums, deepening university-industry collaboration, and developing skilled technical personnel to advance Türkiye’s technological independence.