Türkiye’s first autonomous vehicle development and testing platform, OPINA, was inaugurated on May 9, 2024, with the participation of the Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology, Mr. Mehmet Fatih Kacır, at Istanbul Okan University.

The Opening Ceremony began with a presentation by Prof. Dr. Orhan Behiç Alankuş, Director of the OPINA Operations Coordination Unit, on the OPINA Platform and the clustering process. The ceremony was followed by speeches from Istanbul Okan University Rector Prof. Dr. Güliz Muğan, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Istanbul Okan University Mr. Bekir Okan, and the Minister of Industry and Technology Mr. Mehmet Fatih Kacır.

Services Provided by the OPINA Platform

The OPINA Platform will be an important center for software and hardware development for intelligent, connected, and autonomous vehicles at both national and international levels. Utilizing open innovation methodology, it will offer services in software and hardware development, simulation, testing, certification, and training.

BOA Cluster: Collaboration and Business Development Opportunities

Within the scope of the OPINA Project, the BOA cluster was established at a national level to provide collaboration and business development opportunities. The BOA cluster endeavors to bring together diverse stakeholders within the sector to cultivate synergy and facilitate collaborative projects. By achieving this, it aims to establish a highly attractive ecosystem for both national and international investors.

The Opening Ceremony was successfully held with high attendance and interest. Participants received detailed information about the opportunities provided by the OPINA Platform. The OPINA laboratory and the OPINA autonomous vehicle demo attracted particular attention.

Following the Opening Ceremony, the program continued with the Sixth OPINA Workshop. During the workshop, participants had the opportunity to get to know the services offered by the OPINA Platform more closely and experienced the platform’s operation through a real case study. Additionally, they had the chance to learn about collaboration opportunities and recent calls for related projects to be funded by the European Union.