Türkiye Aims to Lead the World in Blockchain

Bahçeşehir University (BAU) has opened the Istanbul Blockchain and Innovation Center (Blockchain İST Center), a first among universities. Emphasizing that understanding blockchain technology, producing projects and passing on its features to young people are very important, BAU Vice President Prof. Dr. Tunç Bozbura pointed out that its doors are open to every student who values digitalization.

The center, opened at the university's Beşiktaş campus, aims to use the same technologies in the field of blockchain at the same time as the rest of the world. Students and entrepreneurs who want to conduct academic work in the field will also be able to carry out their work at the center. In this context, projects, conferences and various events will be organized at the center, which includes distinguished academics.

"OUR DOORS ARE OPEN TO EVERY STUDENT WHO VALUES DIGITALIZATION"

Emphasizing that understanding blockchain technology, producing projects and passing on its features to young people are very important, Bahçeşehir University Vice President Prof. Dr. Tunç Bozbura said, "Such centers are very much needed so that young people can better understand the gray area of the future. Our doors at this center are open not only to engineering or economics students but to students from every field, such as the faculties of arts, communication and law, who value digitalization and want to become technologically literate."

"ALL UNIVERSITIES SHOULD GET INVOLVED"

Underlining that universities need to get involved so that this technology is conveyed more accurately, securely and effectively, Prof. Dr. Bozbura said, "We have taken the lead in Türkiye, but all universities should get involved in this. For young people to be successful in the future and to find their place in the digital world, they need to learn this technology and how to live with technology."

Stating that blockchain and cryptocurrencies will be understood more easily as scientific studies increase, Istanbul Blockchain and Innovation Center Director Assist. Prof. Dr. Bora Erdamar said that blockchain, an encrypted database that enables transactions carried out in the digital environment to be tracked securely, can be used in every field and is the most important developing technology underlying all cryptocurrencies.

TÜRKİYE'S FIRST YÖK-APPROVED FINTECH PROGRAM IS STARTING

Emphasizing that they want to support applications not only in finance but in many different fields with projects and also provide consultancy services, Dr. Erdamar said: "We are opening Türkiye's first YÖK-approved FinTech program as of this coming September. The first task is to ensure that proper education is provided so that this technology is understood correctly. Our center includes world-class distinguished academics. We will have events, organizations and conferences in cooperation with the world's prestigious universities."

"WE WANT TO BE A PIONEER IN TÜRKİYE"

Stating that blockchain has many innovative and transformative applications, from education to energy, from health to law, and from agriculture to food, Dr. Erdamar said, "Our center will produce projects on applications in these fields, starting with education. We want to be a pioneer in Türkiye."

"WE ARE AMONG THE TOP 10 IN THE WORLD"

Stating that there is great interest in blockchain technology in Türkiye, Dr. Erdamar said, "In fact, we are among the top 10 in the world. This interest is driven especially by cryptocurrencies. As we point out through the activities of this center that the subject is not limited to finance and that there are applications beyond it, the technology will be understood more correctly."

"IT HAS MANY APPLICATIONS IN HEALTH"

Stating that the likelihood of blockchain technology being exposed to cyberattacks is very low, Dr. Erdamar said: "Blockchain technology is essentially a database. The first stage was our transition from the analog to the digital world. Data stored in the digital world is kept in a much more secure, encrypted form, without the risk of being hacked, thanks to a decentralized system. It has many direct and indirect applications in health. It makes it easier to store first people's identity data and then, in fact, the identity data of objects."

"THE MOST IMPORTANT GAP IS HUMAN CAPITAL"

Emphasizing that the most important shortcoming related to blockchain technology all over the world is human capital, Dr. Erdamar said, "That is, there are few people who know the technology. There are more interested people than knowledgeable people. If, as a center, we can turn interested people into knowledgeable people, we will have fulfilled our primary mission. That is the reason we established such a center within the university."