Hungary–Türkiye Year of Science and Innovation starts with defence innovation topic

The event is a milestone in the defence industrial and technological cooperation between the two countries, and is aimed at promoting defence innovation developments. On the occasion of the meeting, Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky and Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir opened the defence cooperation area of the Hungary–Türkiye Year of Science and Innovation in Ankara. The minister pointed out that the mutual sharing of new innovation technologies and solutions offers a new opportunity in the cooperation of the defence sectors. A decision was also made on preparing a yearslong cooperation plan between the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBITAK) and the Hungarian Defence Innovation Research Institute (VIKI), which is aimed at opening up possibilities in the fields of education, training and development between the two countries.

Within the framework of a jointly developed Roadmap, the defence industrial and innovation players of Hungary and Türkiye will begin a structured and regular dialogue – he added. The minister also stated that he intends the Defence Innovation Research Institute to play a central role in the cooperation, as it is ready for and capable of building bridges between the defence innovation sectors of the two countries. We are open to deepening cooperation, not only in the interest of fulfilling the short-term capability needs of the Hungarian Defence Forces, but also to provide opportunities for research and development in the long term – said Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky.

We are forging closer ties within the distinguished strategic partnership between Hungary and Türkiye dating back to 2023 in the field of defence innovation as well – announced Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky after the constitutive session of the Hungary–Türkiye Defence Innovation Working Group in Ankara on 3 February.

Following his discussion with Turkish Minister of National Defence Yasar Güler, the minister emphasized that Türkiye is not only a partner but also a distinguished and important ally of Hungary within NATO. Our countries are actively collaborating on important issues such as the Headquarters Multinational Division Centre (HQ MND-C) that is soon going to reach Full Operational Capability (FOC) and the Hungary-based, multinational NATO Forward Land Forces Battle Group (FLF BG).

Türkiye and Hungary are working intensively and using all means possible for the stability of the Western Balkans. Our efforts are also well attested by the fact that our troops are co-deployed and serving together in NATO’s KFOR mission in Kosovo and in the European Union’s EUFOR Operation Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the minister recalled. We highly appreciate Türkiye’s efforts in the field of counterterrorism, which are an important element in creating regional stability and at once the security of Europe.