The promotional and training launch event held under the 2026 TechAnkara Maker Program—realized in collaboration with the Ankara Development Agency, the Ankara Provincial Directorate of National Education, and Teknopark Ankara—took place on April 11, 2026.

Designed for middle school students, the program aims to introduce young individuals to a technology-based maker culture at an early age, improve their problem-solving and algorithmic thinking skills, and encourage them to generate innovative ideas.

Carried out under the theme “Code, Transform, Sustain: Smart Ideas for the Capital, Safe Tomorrows,” the program enables students to develop projects in block-based coding, robotics applications, algorithmic thinking, and smart system design.

The event was attended by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Duhan Kalkan, Secretary General of the Ankara Development Agency, and Veli Karakuş, Deputy Director of the Ankara Provincial Directorate of National Education. Delivering the closing speech, Duhan Kalkan emphasized the importance of engaging youth in technology-driven production processes at an early age. Noting that such programs make substantial contributions to students' innovative thinking and problem-solving abilities, Kalkan encouraged young participants to produce technology, generate ideas, and bring these concepts to life. Following remarks from partner institution representatives, the program concluded with the presentation of awards to the top three teams.

Award-Winning Teams:

• School: Talatpaşa Middle School

  Team Name: PaşaRoboteam

  Award: First Place

• School: Sincan Şehit Abdullah Büyüksoy Science and Art Center (BİLSEM)

  Team Name: NovaX

  Award: Second Place

• School: Yenimahalle BİLSEM

  Team Name: Plüton

  Award: Third Place

The 2026 TechAnkara Maker Program is expected to contribute significantly to expanding the technology-focused maker culture in Ankara and preparing young people for the future with innovative ideas.