TURKEY’S FIRST R&D CENTER FOR OPTICAL WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS LAUNCHED AT ÖZYEĞİN UNIVERSITY

The Center of Excellence for Optical Wireless Communications Technologies (OKATEM) was launched on the Özyeğin University Çekmeköy Campus. Founded under the leadership of our university and auspices of Istanbul Development Agency (ISTKA), OKATEM is Turkey’s first research and development center in the field of optical wireless communications. The center aims to put Turkey on the fast-track to a leadership position in the field of optical wireless communications.
 
“FIRST IN TURKEY”
OKATEM was launched on the Özyeğin University Çekmeköy Campus with an inauguration ceremony. The center was founded with the mission of moving Turkey up to a leadership position in the field of optical wireless communications.
 
“WORLD-CLASS INFRASTRUCTURE”
 
Prof. Dr. Murat Uysal, Member of the Faculty of Engineering and Director of OKATEM at Özyeğin University, highlighted that the center’s infrastructure offers a great opportunity to position Turkey as a leader in the rapidly developing field of optical wireless communications technologies.
 
“In alignment with global developments, our country had a great need for a robust R&D infrastructure to be recognized as an authority in this emerging field of technology, and develop high value-added OWC-based products, services and applications” remarked Prof. Dr. Murat Uysal. “Now, OKATEM will fill in the void in Turkey with a world-class infrastructure that is on par with its global counterparts.”
 
“OPEN TO RESEARCHERS”
 
Prof. Dr. Uysal also indicated that, led by Özyeğin University,  the center brought together 5 universities and 7 companies under its roof as its project partners and participants. “At OKATEM, we will develop new optical wireless communications technologies for different applications, and undertake research and development studies that will lay the foundations for commercialization through university-private sector collaborations”, said Prof. Murat Uysal.

“The center’s doors are open to all faculty members and researchers who wish to partake in the Center’s activities,” went on Prof. Dr. Uyar, “In just one year, we laid the foundations for cooperation with 40 institutions/organizations. We also reached 282 persons directly and 830 persons through social media. Presently, under the leadership of OKATEM, we forge ahead with our studies with 14 faculty members, 30 researchers and 2 project engineers who work under the roof of our project partners and participants.”


 
 
WHAT IS OKATEM?
The Center of Excellence for Optical Wireless Communications Technologies (OKATEM)  is Turkey’s first research and development laboratory in the field of optical wireless communications. The center was founded under the auspices of Istanbul Development Agency.  Through cooperation between the University and private sector, OKATEM aims to create a shared area of use to facilitate the creation and transfer of new knowledge and technologies in the field of optical wireless communications which has a high potential to make breakthroughs in the field of telecommunications. Through these collaborative R&D projects, the center also aims to contribute to the local production of innovative optical wireless communications solutions and increase the global competitive power of Istanbul, Turkey’s economic heartbeat.