Near East University will represent Cyprus with 5 projects in the TEKNOFEST TRNC 2025 finals, of which it is an official academic partner. One third of the finalists who make it to the finals from Cyprus will be from the Near East.
There are only a few days left for TEKNOFEST TRNC to start. 268 teams will compete fiercely in the TEKNOFEST finals to be held at the Old Ercan Airport between May 1-4. Near East University also supports TEKNOFEST, organized by the Turkish Technology Team Foundation (T3 Foundation), as an “Official Academic Stakeholder”. Near East University, which is the university that applied to TEKNOFEST with the most projects in the TRNC, will strongly represent the TRNC with its 5 projects that made it to the finals.
TEKNOFEST TRNC 2025 finals will be held in 6 main and 13 sub-categories and will feature 20 teams and 103 finalists from Cyprus. In general, 268 teams and approximately 1100 finalists will compete in TEKNOFEST, which receives applications from all over the world. 5 of the 20 finalist teams from Cyprus are from the Near East University campus! Near East University will represent TRNC in the finals with 4 projects and Near East College with 1 project. Thus, approximately one third of the 103 finalists who will represent Cyprus in TEKNOFEST will be from the Near East.
Sustainable solutions in environment, agriculture and biotechnology
The projects that will represent Near East University cover a wide range from environmental research to agriculture, from biotechnology to sustainable solutions. The project titled “Microbiota and Geochemistry of Copper Mine Waste in Northern Cyprus”, which will compete in the “Environmental Research” category, aims to analyze the environmental effects of copper mine waste in the Lefke region with microbiological and geochemical methods and to discover new bacterial species that can be used in purifying these wastes. The project aims to provide solutions not only to the TRNC but also to many countries experiencing similar environmental problems with the “Bioremediation Bacteria Bank” to be established at the Near East University Synthetic Biology Research and Technology Center.
The “Smart Agriculture with Portable Heavy Metal Sensors” project, which was a finalist in the agriculture category, aims to develop small and portable sensors that can detect heavy metal (especially lead) pollution in fields on site. Thanks to these sensors that work with electrochemical principles, farmers and agricultural experts will be able to quickly evaluate soil and water quality, increasing both efficiency and safety in agricultural production.
The “Sterile Vegetable” project offers a smart agriculture system specially developed for individuals with suppressed immune systems. Vegetables to be produced in a closed-circuit, hydroponic environment; It will be sterilized with UV, ozone, active carbon and plant extracts specific to Cyprus, and harmful pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella will be detected instantly through biosensors. This project, which aims to close a significant gap in food safety and health, was developed under the roof of the Near East University NERITA Technology Transfer Office.
The “EcOceanX” project, which also stands out with its environmentally friendly approach, aims to develop a biofouling-preventing, sustainable coating technology with biological components obtained from marine macroalgae and endemic Posidonia oceanica leaves instead of traditional coating paints used in the seas. The project aims to both protect the marine ecosystem and offer a low-cost and environmentally friendly alternative to the maritime sector.
The “EcoWind” project of Near East College is also in the finals!
While Near East University took part in the TEKNOFEST finals with 4 projects, Near East College students made it to the finals with the “EcoWind” project signed by the “Agritech Innovators” team. Competing in the Social Innovation category, the project offers a smart agricultural system that produces its own energy with wind turbines and solar panels, stores rainwater, and automatically irrigates by monitoring soil moisture with sensors. The project, which was developed to prevent water waste especially in arid and hot climates, is of great importance in terms of sustainable agricultural practices.
Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “I wholeheartedly congratulate our young scientists who will represent our country and university on a prestigious platform such as TEKNOFEST.”
Rector of Near East University Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, in his statement regarding the success of Near East University students in the TEKNOFEST 2025 TRNC finals, said, “We are proud that the projects developed within our university offer solutions that are not only scientific but also produce social benefits.” Stating that “These projects, which touch vital areas such as environment, health, agriculture and sustainability, reveal the creative and innovative potential of our students and academics,” Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ also said, “I wholeheartedly congratulate our young scientists who will represent our country and university at a prestigious platform such as TEKNOFEST.”
Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ emphasized that TEKNOFEST will be a festival where not only technological competition but also creative solutions produced by young people to environmental and social problems will be showcased, and said, “Hosting this important festival as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will also yield extremely valuable results in terms of providing a platform where our young people can show themselves and expand their vision.”