I would never have thought that there would be such a place in Turkey.

The Talas Municipality Esports and Innovation Center, Turkey’s only fixed-arena center, continues to provide training to young people. In this context, a program was organized where three legendary figures in technology and informatics met with the youth.

On one hand, the Talas Municipality Esports and Innovation Center provides middle and high school students with the opportunity to become the inventors of the future, while on the other hand, it brings together Turkish figures who work in important companies around the world in technology and informatics. Among these figures are cybersecurity expert and author Dr. Erdal Özkaya, Microsoft Tech Lead Daron Yöndem, and Microsoft Data Platform MVP Ömer Çolakoğlu, who discussed technology and informatics topics with the youth. Speaking at the program, Ömer Çolakoğlu, who is also from Kayseri, emphasized the importance of the center and praised Talas Mayor Mustafa Yalçın for bringing them together with the youth.

“A great service to the youth”

Ömer Çolakoğlu thanked Mayor Yalçın for allowing the Talas Municipality Esports and Innovation Center to be used as they wished to meet with the youth, saying, “There are 198 R&D centers in the world. Two of them are located in this center. Therefore, young people should not miss such an opportunity. Despite having an urgent meeting, Erdal came here from New York at our request. These opportunities should be evaluated well. Because this is your future, and good-hearted people who want to contribute to this have taken time from their precious schedules to come here and provide these opportunities for you. I thank the Mayor of Talas for allocating this space for us. He said, ‘This place is yours; you can use it whenever you want.’ This is very valuable. The people who manage this city are trying to contribute to these matters. Important support is being offered to you young people who will earn money from this and continue your lives in the future.”

Cybersecurity expert and author Dr. Erdal Özkaya also expressed his admiration for the center, stating, “If I closed my eyes and opened them here, I would not believe it was in Turkey. It has become incredibly beautiful and equipped. I congratulate our visionary mayor.”

After the speeches at the program, the youth had the opportunity to ask their curious questions in a Q&A session.