Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu met with young people at the second term award ceremony of the “Reaching and Accessing Turkey 2053 Inter-University R&D Idea Competition” organized by the Transport, Maritime and Communication Research Center (UDHAM). Minister Uraloğlu congratulated all students who won awards and those who did not in the competition, in which 2 young people from 62 different universities participated with 205 projects, and said, “You are the architects of the Turkish Century.”
The Labor of the Youth, the Seeds Planted for Türkiye's Future
Minister Uraloğlu emphasized that the labor of each student is a seed planted for the future and said, “You, in this hall, are not only the architects of a competition but also of ideas that shed light on the future of Türkiye, the architects of the Turkish Century. The age we are in is an age of transformation where information is the most valuable capital and technology is a power that directs every area of life. It is not possible for societies that do not produce information and cannot transform the information they produce into technology and products to survive.”
Immortal Legacies, Despite Those Who Say “You Can’t Do It”
Uraloğlu, who stated that Türkiye has become a global export country that has produced its own automobile, communication and observation satellites, fighter jets, helicopters, ships and national electric trains under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the last 23 years, said that TÜRKSAT 6A is an example of these achievements. “We made history by delivering our first domestic and national communication satellite, TÜRKSAT 80A, which we produced with a local content rate of over 6 percent, to its permanent orbit and starting test broadcasts with our unwavering determination and self-confidence, in defiance of those who said ‘you can’t do it’. With TÜRKSAT 6A, which we will put into service very soon with the presence of our President, the population reached by our satellites will increase from 3,5 billion to 5 billion. These projects are immortal legacies, in defiance of those who said ‘you can’t do it’.”
Great Interest in R&D Idea Competition
Uraloğlu, who reminded that the first term of the competition started with the participation of students from 19 universities and 1 million 800 thousand 300 liras worth of prizes were distributed, announced that in the second term, 62 young people from 205 universities participated with 115 projects and 3 million 565 thousand liras worth of prizes were distributed. “We are saying this, I declare in the presence of all of you that as you show interest in these projects, we will increase the resources we will allocate for these prizes and these incentives even more,” he said.
Sustainability Theme in Transportation and Infrastructure Magazine
Emphasizing that the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure is working to accelerate the development journey with scientific knowledge, Uraloğlu announced that the theme of the second issue of the Transport and Infrastructure Academic Journal will be “Sustainability in Transport Systems.” Stating that they are expecting articles on topics such as policies that reduce carbon emissions, artificial intelligence applications, smart transport systems and green agreement, he said that contributions can be made through DergiPark until April 20.
Collaboration with Youth and Future Vision
Uraloğlu, who stated that they are in close cooperation with students as a ministry through events such as Teknofest, Regional Career Fairs and U-FEST, said, “We find valuable the role our youth want to play in these areas in the future and their potential to contribute to the sector, we work shoulder to shoulder with you. Because we know that the Turkish Century will be shaped by your vision.”
Precautions Against the Risks of the Digital World
Uraloğlu also touched on the risks of using the digital world and social media, saying that cyberbullying, online harassment and exposure to inappropriate content are among the risks that affect young people the most. “Some gaming platforms in particular not only encourage violence, but also encourage trends that can harm our family structure. This is an issue that we all need to take seriously, and as AKP governments, ensuring the safety of our children and youth in digital media is one of our top priorities.”
Social Media Age Limit Regulation
Uraloğlu, who stated that they are working on regulations regarding the use of social media by young people under the age of 16, said, “In this regard, we are working on a gradual regulation regarding the age limit in social media use. We are planning separate regulations for children up to the age of 13 and for the age group of 13-16. With these studies, we aim to create stronger control mechanisms against harmful content and increase the responsibilities of digital platforms.”
Technology Should Be Our Servant
Uraloğlu emphasized that their expectations from young people are to increase their awareness on this issue and to raise awareness in their environment, and said, “Remember, a conscious user protects not only himself but also society. I would like to emphasize the following as I conclude my words: Technology should be our servant, not our master… I sincerely believe that you will become individuals who are beneficial to both yourself and society by establishing this balance.” He expressed his belief that young people will shape the future of Türkiye.
