- The Council of Higher Education and the Presidency of Defence Industries sign a landmark cooperation protocol.

- Eleven leading universities unite to build Türkiye's national quantum ecosystem.

- President of the Council of Higher Education Erol Özvar: "Türkiye will become a leading player in quantum technologies."

June 24, 2026

Türkiye has taken a historic step toward strengthening its high-tech vision and advancing its defense industry ambitions. The Council of Higher Education (CoHE) and the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) have signed the Strategic Competency Development Cooperation Protocol for Quantum Technologies in the Defense Industry.

Under the protocol, eleven of Türkiye's leading universities will join forces to establish a national quantum technologies ecosystem.

- "A Strong Talent Pool and Research Infrastructure Are a Strategic Necessity"

Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the Presidency of Defence Industries, President of the Council of Higher Education Erol Özvar emphasized the strategic importance of quantum technologies for Türkiye's future. "I believe that the step we are taking today will make a significant contribution to positioning Türkiye among the countries that lead the world in quantum technologies," he said.

Özvar noted that Türkiye has undergone a historic transformation in its defense industry over the past two decades under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, highlighting achievements ranging from unmanned aerial vehicles and satellite systems to electronic warfare technologies and the National Combat Aircraft. He stated that these accomplishments demonstrate the country's growing capacity to develop advanced technologies.

Emphasizing that achieving full independence in the defense industry requires moving beyond existing technologies, Özvar underlined the critical importance of investing in next-generation technologies for national security. "Building a strong talent pool and research infrastructure in quantum technologies is not a choice for our country—it is a strategic necessity," he said.

He added that quantum technologies will have a transformative impact across a wide range of fields, from defense and communications to cybersecurity and healthcare technologies, noting that quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum sensing are among the strategic technologies that will shape future global competition.

- "We Will Launch New Undergraduate Programs in Quantum Technologies"

Özvar stated that the Council of Higher Education has been closely following developments in quantum technologies for some time and announced that work is underway to establish new undergraduate programs dedicated to the field. He explained that the first phase of this transformation has already begun at Gebze Technical University and added that developing graduate programs, promoting interdisciplinary research, and training specialized academic staff are among the Council's priorities. According to Özvar, the eleven universities participating in the protocol possess strong research capacities in quantum technologies and will make significant contributions to Türkiye's emerging quantum ecosystem. He also emphasized that the collaboration will accelerate the translation of research outcomes into technological innovation.

- Görgün: "We Are in the Midst of a New Technology Race"

President of the Presidency of Defence Industries Prof. Haluk Görgün said that the world is entering a new era of technological competition. "Success in this race will depend on correctly identifying technological trends and directing limited resources toward strategic priorities," he said. Warning that dependence on foreign countries in critical technologies amounts to a gradual loss of sovereignty, Görgün added: "With our talented young workforce, we have the capacity to achieve excellence and become a model for the world. We are carrying our self-confidence into next-generation technologies. This is the era of investing in the right technologies at the right time."

- Building a Sustainable National Quantum Ecosystem

The Strategic Competency Development Cooperation Protocol for Quantum Technologies in the Defense Industry aims to cultivate highly qualified human resources, strengthen research capacity, and establish a sustainable national quantum ecosystem in the fields of quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum sensing.

The protocol brings together Ankara University, Bilkent University, Boğaziçi University, Gebze Technical University, Hacettepe University, Istanbul Technical University, Koç University, Middle East Technical University, Özyeğin University, Sabancı University, and TOBB University of Economics and Technology, creating a shared national vision among Türkiye's leading research universities.

The partnership includes plans to develop associate, undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree programs; launch new certificate programs; strengthen research centers and laboratory infrastructure; expand scholarship and internship opportunities; and implement joint projects with defense industry companies.

Covering educational and research activities ranging from quantum physics and quantum cryptography to quantum software and quantum hardware technologies, the protocol will elevate collaboration among universities, industry, and the public sector to a new level. By cultivating the domestic talent needed for critical defense technologies, the initiative aims to enhance Türkiye's global competitiveness.

Beyond academic cooperation, the protocol is regarded as a strategic roadmap that will help position Türkiye as a regional and global leader in quantum technologies.