Antalya:Trkiye and China have signed an agreement to collaborate on space technology research and development, product development, and commercialization. The agreement was made between Turkish satellite operator TURKSAT and China's China Satcom.
According to Anadolu Agency, the protocol was signed at the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026) in Antalya. The event is organized by the International Astronautical Federation and hosted by the Turkish Space Agency and SAHA Istanbul with coordination from the Ministry of Industry and Technology. The signing ceremony took place at the TURKSAT stand, with TURKSAT Deputy General Manager for Satellite Services Selman Demirel and China Satcom CEO Ma Haiquan present.
The agreement will combine the engineering expertise of both countries to develop innovative products and solutions. It builds on a partnership that began last year with capacity sharing and has now expanded into hardware and software development. The partnership will focus on areas such as UAV communication systems, satellite-based Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, and smart border security technologies.
Under the agreement, TURKSAT aims to enhance its solution portfolio by utilizing its existing capabilities to develop new technologies and applications. The collaboration will involve the entire process from market analysis to product validation and commercialization. Engineers from both countries will work together on these initiatives.
The partnership also addresses the development of satellite-based hardware for sectors like energy, agriculture, and logistics, particularly in remote areas without mobile networks. This initiative seeks to improve real-time data transmission in regions lacking terrestrial communications infrastructure, enhancing border security and industrial data transmission.
A joint steering committee, evenly represented by both countries, will oversee the research and development activities, with progress reviews every three months. Through these efforts, TURKSAT aims to become a leading technology supplier in the global market.