Near East University achieved a historic success at the TEKNOFEST TRNC 2025 finals! Representing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus at the TEKNOFEST finals with 5 projects entirely made on its campus, Near East University became the only university in Cyprus to reach the podium by winning two championships. Near East University was also the only university to experience double championship pride in the finals.

15,750 teams and 47,865 competitors applied to TEKNOFEST, which was held at the Old Ercan Airport between May 1-4. As a result of the eliminations, only 268 teams were able to reach the final stage. In TEKNOFEST, where 20 teams from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus made it to the finals, Near East University was the university with the most representation with 4 projects. Near East College competed with 1 project. Thus, approximately one-third of the 103 finalists representing Cyprus in TEKNOFEST were from Near East.

The project that will shape the future of agriculture is the TEKNOFEST champion!

The first champion of Near East University in the TEKNOFEST finals was the Heavy Metal team. The team, which received its awards from Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ersin Tatar, consisted of Mehmet Karagözlü, Fulya Yonucu, Valarie Oru and Behnaz Shirgir under the supervision of Near East University Faculty of Engineering Vice Dean Assoc. Dr. Süleyman Aşır. The projects that became champions in the Agriculture Category of the Research Project Competition were prepared with the aim of increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring environmental sustainability.

The revolutionary project developed by the Heavy Metal team in agriculture enables the rapid and on-site detection of heavy metals such as lead in fields with portable sensors. Thanks to this innovative system based on electrochemical principles, soil and water quality can be analyzed instantly, increasing both productivity and food safety.

The environmentally sensitive blue economy project won the “prestige award”!

The Near East University EcOceanX team, competing in the Environment and Energy Category at the TEKNOFEST finals, was awarded the “Best Presentation Award” at the Research Project Competition Prestige Awards. The project aims to build a bridge between the protection of marine ecosystems and sustainable energy production. The team, competing under the consultancy of Near East University Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department Head of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Selin Deliceırmak, consisted of Melin Nisa Kılınç, Zelal Yağmur Tabak, Nur Selin Süzer, Kerem Aydoğdu and Nalin Dora. The EcOceanX team developed an innovative system that collects marine litter accumulated on coastlines and converts them into recycled energy and reusable materials. In addition, the fact that this system protects coastal ecosystems and contributes to biodiversity strengthens the environmental sustainability dimension of the project.

This success is not only the pride of our university, but also of our country!

Reminding that Near East University is the university that applied with the most projects in Cyprus and reached up to the finals with the most projects at TEKNOFEST, of which it is an academic partner, Near East Enterprises Board of Trustees Chairman Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel said that they are proud of the results they achieved in the finals. Saying “This double championship we achieved at TEKNOFEST is an indicator of the scientific production capacity of our university and the creative potential of our youth.” Prof. Dr. Günsel also added; “We will always continue to support our students in their journey to produce the technologies of the future. This success is not only the pride of our university, but also of our country. I wholeheartedly congratulate all our academics and students who contributed.”

Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ emphasized the Near East University’s research and innovation-based education model and said, “The success we achieved at TEKNOFEST is a result of this approach.” Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ added; “Our students do not only produce knowledge, but also transform this knowledge into projects for the benefit of humanity. I congratulate our Heavy Metal and EcOceanX teams and thank them for making us live up to this pride.”