Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN) has added another success to its achievements in the fields of technology and innovation. ZBEÜ Automation and R&D Team (OVAT), one of BEUN’s Technology Teams, won the “Most Original Software Award” in the Original Vehicle Category of the Robotaxi-Passenger Autonomous Vehicle Competition organized as part of TEKNOFEST 2026.
A Great Success Among 1,200 Applications
As part of the TEKNOFEST 2026 competitions, the finalist teams showcased their vehicles at the Robotaxi-Passenger Autonomous Vehicle Competition held at Kocaeli Bilişim Vadisi ahead of the major gathering to be held in Şanlıurfa. ZBEÜ OVAT was deemed worthy of the “Most Original Software Award,” one of the three special awards, with its successful performance among the 50 teams that reached the finals out of 1,200 applications.
Within the scope of the Robotaxi-Passenger Autonomous Vehicle Competition, three honorable mention awards were presented in the categories of Team Spirit, Most Original Software, and Most Original Vehicle Design, while BEUN’s ZBEÜ OVAT team was among the teams that received an award for its original software.
Rector Ulusoy: “TEKNOFEST Is Shaping Türkiye’s Science and Technology Vision with the Power of Our Youth”
BEUN Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ulusoy, in his assessment of the students’ achievement, stated that TEKNOFEST is a unique platform that brings young people’s dreams together with technology and production and strengthens Türkiye’s National Technology Initiative, and said:
“Winning the ‘Most Original Software Award’ among the 50 teams that reached the finals out of 1,200 applications is a great source of pride for us. This valuable achievement is one of the best indicators that our students are a generation that researches, develops, produces, and turns their original ideas into success.
I would like to express my gratitude to the TEKNOFEST Executive Board and Mr. Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the T3 Foundation, for contributing to the creation of such a strong technology ecosystem in our country through TEKNOFEST, which leads our young people on their journey of science and technology; and to our President of the Council of Higher Education, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, and our Council of Higher Education family, who are always by our side and put forward visionary efforts that will strengthen the scientific and technological capacity of our higher education system. In addition, I would like to sincerely thank Prof. Dr. Orhan Aydın, President of TÜBİTAK, for supporting our universities in the field of technology.
I sincerely congratulate our academic advisors and students who contributed to this meaningful achievement and wish them continued success. I sincerely believe that all our technology teams that will represent our University at TEKNOFEST 2026, to be held in Şanlıurfa, will also achieve significant success.
As Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, we will continue to increase all kinds of opportunities that enable our students to develop themselves in the fields of science, technology, and innovation and encourage them to produce new ideas. I hope that all our University’s technology teams will take part in the TEKNOFEST competitions even more strongly in the coming years and successfully represent our University and Zonguldak.”
