Scientists Join Forces for Domestic Nanotechnology Materials

Turkish scientists unite for domestic and national nanotechnology materials. The A1 Platform, established with TÜBİTAK support and led by Bilkent UNAM with 20 partners, has begun work on developing 60 different nanotechnology-based materials for critical applications such as "national aircraft" and "high-quality displays." The platform, which initially develops high-value, high-technology products in various sectors including defense industry, consumer durables, electronics, and glass, is expected to make a significant contribution to the country's economy.

ANKARA (AA) - SELMA KASAP

On the platform, the domestic production phase for nanocrystals previously imported from abroad for high-quality displays has been completed. Bilkent University UNAM Director Prof. Dr. Hilmi Volkan Demir stated: "Our nanocrystal color technology developed for display applications on our platform was awarded a gold medal by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Institute."

Funding support exceeding TRY 60 million

UNAM Director Prof. Dr. Hilmi Volkan Demir stated that under the TÜBİTAK 1004-Centers of Excellence Support Program, which is supported by TÜBİTAK to acquire critical high technologies, they are conducting work with funding support exceeding TRY 60 million, led by Bilkent UNAM. Using this fund to develop critical technologies for the country, Demir explained that they established the A1 Platform, a large team led by Bilkent University UNAM with TUSAŞ, Vestel and Şişecam—among Turkey's most important locomotive industries—and Bilkent, Eskişehir Technical, Abdullah Gül (AGÜ) and TOBB ETÜ universities. He noted that the team also collaborates with approximately 20 stakeholder institutions including R&D spin-off companies.

"We will bring critical technologies to the country"

Describing their work across five interconnected fields—"nanomaterials," "transparents," "structurals," "avionics displays" and "advanced glass technologies"—Demir stated: "The technology of more than 60 final, subsidiary and intermediate products triggered by this program will be developed. The expected outcome is to provide our country with high-value-added material technologies. There will be various patent applications from this. Therefore, together with our patent portfolio, we will have equipped our companies, which are locomotives in their respective fields, with critical technologies."

"Will provide direct contribution to country's economy"

Demir said: "During the four-year TÜBİTAK 1004-Centers of Excellence Support Program, the numerous technologies acquired with A1 team stakeholders will materialize as high-value-added, high-technology products in various sectors including defense industry, consumer durables, electronics and glass, thereby creating direct contribution to the country's economy." Demir indicated that from mechanical components inside cockpits to transparent materials, these will be used in the national aircraft, and transparent structural canopies surrounding the cockpit will be developed with domestic and national characteristics. He explained that work is being conducted on a special nanocomposite material group called "structurals" for different mechanical components inside cockpits, and that TUSAŞ and UNAM are working in close cooperation on this.

Domestic and national production of nanocrystals advanced

Prof. Dr. Demir emphasized that "avionics" displays—which can refer to hundreds of systems installed on aircraft for communications, navigation, displaying and managing multiple systems, and performing individual functions—are critical for cockpits, stating: "While advancing to this latest technological point, we are working on developing nanocrystal color technology special display technologies with different outputs along the way, such as small-format displays, televisions, digital indicator panels, automobile panels, and ultimately compatible with avionics applications. To enhance color quality inside displays, we embed nanocrystals as color converters. Normally these nanocrystals are purchased from abroad. As a platform, we are developing nanocrystals compatible with display technologies. When we place the films we produce from this infrastructure behind a television screen, we can deliver much more vivid colors to viewers." Pointing out that the semiconductor nanocrystals they developed for high-tech displays have reached commercial process in collaboration between AGÜ and UNAM, Demir said: "We can now produce this technology on a large scale. We obtain 50 grams of nanocrystal color converter in one liter. This can be used as a color converter in approximately 50 televisions. In this way, with quantum material technologies, we can provide input for both display applications and other consumer durable applications."

Partnership established with Vestel

Demir noted that for industry-oriented application of "avionics" display technology, a spin-off company called Nanome was established at AGÜ under the direction of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Evren Mutlugün, and that they have also established close partnerships with Vestel in this regard. Demir also emphasized that their nanocrystal color technology developed for display applications on the platform was awarded a gold medal by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Institute.

"Creating qualified R&D workforce"

Prof. Dr. Hilmi Volkan Demir provided the following information about their work: "We aim for Turkey to be competitive by producing scientifically high-impact, technologically high-value-added and globally beneficial and valuable information for innovation; to create not only economic value but also social benefit and qualified R&D workforce for our country; to trigger a 'snowball' effect for deep technology development through the strength of university-industry cooperation; and to develop the capabilities necessary for global-level competitive product development. Over the next four years, we are working to bring critical material technologies to Turkey in five different fields. During the four-year program, technologies classified as technology readiness levels 3, 4, 5 will be advanced to levels 6, 7, 8, 9, and in this way, high-value-added technological products will be acquired by our country with the goal of domestic and national production. Along with these, we aim for all institutions participating in the program to ensure that their technological achievements at every stage provide shared and multifaceted benefits for the development of their unique products in their respective sectors."