ITU ARI Teknokent on Media
İTÜ ARI Teknokent, Türkiye’s leading technology and innovation hub, announced the launch of Dual-Use Studio Istanbul and the İTÜ Çekirdek Dual-Use Acceleration Program in partnership with its strategic partner InnotalentPlus. The newly introduced program aims to bring together the civil industry and the defense, aviation, and space ecosystems under a structured, sustainable, and results-oriented model.
Focusing on advanced engineering, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, sensor technologies, materials science, and space solutions, the program seeks to position dual-use technologies on a global scale and transform them into scalable business models.
By bringing Dual-Use Studio Istanbul and the İTÜ Çekirdek Dual-Use Acceleration Program to life, İTÜ ARI Teknokent and InnotalentPlus aim to convene academia, entrepreneurs, industry stakeholders, and public institutions within a unified ecosystem. The initiative is designed to ensure that developed technologies scale effectively in both defense and civilian markets through accurate market positioning, robust business models, and strategic partnerships.
A Focused Model for Dual-Use Commercialization
The İTÜ Çekirdek Dual-Use Acceleration Program will offer a targeted framework enabling early-stage and growth-stage startups to commercialize their dual-use potential. Participating startups will receive support in:
Startups admitted to the program will leverage İTÜ ARI Teknokent’s entrepreneurship infrastructure and its extensive academic and industrial stakeholder network, culminating in opportunities to engage with investors and industry representatives at the end of the program cycle.
“Dual-Use Is Embedded in Our Roots”
In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Attila Dikbaş, General Manager of İTÜ ARI Teknokent, emphasized that the program represents a strategic continuation of a longstanding engineering tradition:
“The dual-use approach is embedded in the very roots of İTÜ. Our engineering heritage, which traces back to the Mühendishane-i Bahr-i Hümâyûn—the predecessor of both İTÜ and our Military Academies—has always been grounded in the capacity to generate both civilian and military capabilities. Through İTÜ Çekirdek, we established a structured system that connects startups with investors and major corporations. We are now advancing this experience further through a dual-use perspective. With Dual-Use Studio Istanbul, we are building a holistic model that analyzes the dual-use potential of technologies, ensures accurate market positioning, and structures PoC processes.”
“Resilience Is the Defining Keyword of the New Era”
In his address, Selçuk Kaan Saltık noted that global geopolitical disruptions, increasing defense expenditures, and supply chain risks are reshaping technology strategies:
“The dual-use approach establishes a sustainable R&D model, strengthens supply chain resilience, and provides critical advantages in accessing global markets. NATO’s DIANA framework places dual-use innovation at its core, and Türkiye assumes an active role within this network. Real value is created by teams that test technology in the field and design its lifecycle from the earliest stages.”
Saltık also underlined that their infrastructure remains fully available to support the needs of dual-use-focused startups.
Emphasis on Scale and Localization in Strategic Industries
İlhami Keleş stressed that increasing the domestic production ratio in the defense industry is a fundamental element of strategic independence. He highlighted that dual-use technologies not only create scale in the domestic market but also enhance export potential. He further emphasized the critical importance of accelerating industry–startup collaborations.
Operational Experience and Technology Alignment
Alpaslan Erdoğan underscored the importance of field-validated solutions, noting that technology gains true value in real operational scenarios. He emphasized that the dual-use approach enhances defense capabilities while simultaneously generating economic value in civilian markets.
Dual-Use Studio Istanbul Establishes a Strategic Bridge
Güven Karaöz stated that Dual-Use Studio Istanbul serves as a strategic bridge between civilian and defense ecosystems. He emphasized that technologies are addressed within an integrated framework encompassing market positioning, regulatory alignment, and scalability. Startups receive direct support in PoC development, investor relations, and market entry strategies.
DIANA Perspective and Global Integration
Ayşe Aydın Selvi shared insights into NATO DIANA’s mission to accelerate dual-use innovation, highlighting Türkiye’s strengthening position within the network and the growth of international collaborations. She underlined that compliance with international standards and certification discipline are decisive factors in global competitiveness.
“Real Experiences from the Field” Panel
As part of the event, a panel brought together representatives from academia, entrepreneurship, and the defense industry. Panelists discussed how advanced technologies developed for defense applications can scale in civilian markets, how certification and export control processes should be addressed at the design stage, and the criteria investors apply when evaluating dual-use ventures.
