Erzurum Technical University (ETU), designated by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) as the
specializing university in the field of “Additive Manufacturing,” shared its current operations and future
vision in this domain with members of the press.
In a program held at the High Technology Application and Research Center (YÜTAM) with the
participation of ETU Rector Prof. Dr. Bülent Çakmak, academics, and journalists, information was
provided regarding the university's research infrastructure, ongoing projects, and achievements in additive
manufacturing.
As part of the program, press members toured the laboratories within YÜTAM, gaining the opportunity to
closely examine the advanced technological equipment used in additive manufacturing technologies while
receiving detailed information from academics about the ongoing studies and developed projects.
“This Success is the Result of an Accumulation Spanning Many Years”
Stating that ETU becoming the first university in Türkiye to officially specialize in the field of additive
manufacturing was not a coincidental development, Rector Prof. Dr. Bülent Çakmak noted that the
university's work in this field dates back more than a decade.
Recording that they conduct projects targeting many strategic sectors, particularly the defense industry
and healthcare, through research carried out within YÜTAM, Çakmak stated that their knowledge base
and academic competence in the field of additive manufacturing have been certified by YÖK.
“We Took Part in One of Türkiye’s Largest Additive Manufacturing Projects”
In his speech, Çakmak also touched upon the “Next Generation 3D Printer Manufacturing Technologies
Platform” project, conducted within the scope of the TÜBİTAK 1004 Excellence Center Support
Program, noting that ETU took part in the project alongside Gazi University and Sabancı University.
Stating that Türkiye's leading defense industry organizations, such as ASELSAN, TAI (TUSAŞ), TEI, and
TÜBİTAK MAM, are also involved as stakeholders, Çakmak expressed that they provide significant
contributions to the development of additive manufacturing technologies through studies encompassing
design, production, experimental tests, and numerical analysis.
Goal: Commercialization and Mass Production
Emphasizing that efforts to transform the technologies developed at the university into economic value
are also underway, Çakmak said that following research and development activities, they have taken
important steps toward the commercialization and transfer of products to industry.
Expressing that the knowledge acquired in the field of additive manufacturing is not limited solely to
academic publications, Çakmak noted that the goal is to transfer the developed technologies into
production through corporate spin-off processes, planning to transition to the mass production phase in the
upcoming period.
The program concluded following the on-site examination of the work carried out in the laboratories and
the answering of the press members' questions.
Corporate Communications and Promotion Directorate – 04.06.2026