Hasan Kalyoncu University (HKU) achieved a remarkable success at TEKNOFEST 2025, the world’s largest Aviation, Space, and Technology Festival. The university’s Viento UAV Team won first place in the International Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Category and also received the Special Award from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ).
Organized by TÜBİTAK and the T3 Foundation, the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Competitions were held in Kocaeli. Among 131 finalist teams, HKU’s Viento UAV Team—composed of students from the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering—stood out with its autonomous flight capabilities, high-resolution imaging systems, and outstanding performance in payload delivery missions.
Acting Rector Küçükerdoğan: “This Success Is No Coincidence”
Hasan Kalyoncu University Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Gül Rengin Küçükerdoğan congratulated the students and shared the following remarks:As Hasan Kalyoncu University, we are proud of the great success our students achieved at TEKNOFEST. Winning both first place in the International Fixed-Wing UAV Category and the Special Award from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) is a concrete reflection of our university’s vision centered on entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology.The double award won by our Viento UAV Team at TEKNOFEST 2025 is the fruit of our university’s innovation ecosystem. This success is by no means a coincidence. In previous years, Hasan Kalyoncu University ranked first among foundation universities in TEKNOFEST applications, and our teams won championships in different categories. This consistent track record is the clearest indicator of HKU’s vision in technology development and entrepreneurship.With this year’s success, Hasan Kalyoncu University has further strengthened its strong position in TEKNOFEST, taking Gaziantep’s and Turkey’s ambitions in aviation and defense industries even further. On this occasion, I would like to thank all our students, academics, and everyone who contributed to this achievement.
Full Support from Kalyon Garaj, KALİTTO, and OSB Technopark
Prof. Dr. Küçükerdoğan emphasized the infrastructure provided by the university to its students and stated:To enable our students to bring their innovative projects to life, we provide full support through the Kalyon Garaj Prototyping and Entrepreneurship Center, the Kalyoncu Innovation and Technology Transfer Office (KALİTTO), and the OSB Technopark. At the Kalyon Garaj Prototyping and Entrepreneurship Center, our students have access to a wide range of facilities, from 3D printers to simulation laboratories, to develop their projects. While our expert team provides technical mentorship, KALİTTO guides students in patent consultancy, project reports, and commercialization processes. Our OSB Technopark also offers students and entrepreneurs significant opportunities with its R&D offices, incubation centers, subsidized software companies, and infrastructure that strengthens industry-university collaboration. Thanks to these centers, Hasan Kalyoncu University has become not only an educational institution but also a hub of innovation.
Under the supervision of HKU Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering faculty member Dr. Fatih Alisinanoğlu, the Viento UAV Team—led by team captain Muhammed Değer and composed of members Nazlıcan Özdemir, Muhammed Semih Külekçioğlu, Muhammet Akın Aslan, Ali Kendir, Ahmet Emre Güceylioğlu, and Ulaş Yılmaz—received their awards from Kocaeli Governor İlhami Aktaş, TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Orhan Aydın, and Turkey Technology Team Foundation (T3) Chairman of the Board Elvan Kuzucu.
