01

COMPETITION NAME
  1. TECHXTILE CHALLENGE DESIGN COMPETITION

02

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

Since 2009, the “UTİB Türkiye Textile and Apparel Sector International R&D Project Market Summit,” organized to support and contribute to the textile and ready-to-wear sectors, which are among Türkiye’s most important exporting sectors, has undergone a significant transformation in 2019, turning into a design competition under the name “TechXtile Challenge.”

 

The “7th TechXtile Challenge Design Competition” is a design competition for the textile sector organized by the “Uludağ Textile Exporters’ Association (UTİB)” with the coordination of the “Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM)” and the support of the “Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade.”

03

THE PURPOSE OF THE COMPETITION
  • Increasing added value in exports
  • Integrating new technologies and methods into production processes
  • Designing innovative products
  • Creating an entrepreneurship and innovation culture
  • Encouraging new entrepreneurs and designers
  • Strengthening university-industry collaboration
  • Contributing to the collaboration between industrialists and start-ups
  • Strengthening the technology-focused textile entrepreneurship ecosystem
  • Increasing awareness for environmentally friendly and sustainable textile production
  • Presenting innovative and/or original projects related to the textile sector and bringing these projects together with sector leaders, students, academics, investors, and entrepreneurs.

04

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
  • The competition is open to all sector professionals, academics, R&D personnel, technopark employees, designers, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and students who are interested in the sector. Anyone who has completed the age of 18 can participate individually or as part of a team. For team participation, one person must be designated as the team leader.
  • The project submitted to the competition must be innovative for the country/region in the textile sector. The contestant will be responsible if the project is not an original and innovative work, if there is a claim to the contrary, or if third parties claim rights over the design.
  • There is no limit on the number of project applications. A contestant can participate in the competition with more than one distinct project for the textile sector. However, they can only receive an award for a single project within the same competition year.
  • For team participation, one person must be designated as the team leader/project manager to manage relations with UTİB, and each of the team members is jointly and severally liable to UTİB. If the applicant(s) are not students in an educational institution, a graduation diploma or student certificate is not required, but a written declaration is mandatory.
  • Pursuant to TİM's instructions dated 19.12.2024 and numbered 137-3141, it has been decided that a contestant who has received a cash prize from any design competition organized by our Exporters' Associations cannot participate in other design competitions in the same year.

05

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE

Behind the rise of technologically advanced countries lies the implementation of necessary technologies through innovation, which depends on the skills and risk-taking of the entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship plays an active role in bringing these technologies to light. By bringing innovative processes, entrepreneurship promotes economic growth. In developing and promoting these two factors, a great responsibility falls on public institutions, as well as companies operating in the industrial sector, R&D centers, and universities.

Türkiye has also recognized the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship and is making significant investments in this area with all its institutions. The way to close the gap with technologically advanced countries is to support the innovative ideas, products, and services of entrepreneurs.

From this perspective, the goal of TECHXTILE CHALLENGE is to encourage anyone who develops ideas and products in the technological fields/focus areas that textile companies are working on, budgeting for R&D and innovation, and seeking collaborations to participate, benefit from training and mentorship opportunities, and develop themselves.

Turkish citizens or foreign nationals who are 18 years of age or older, including students, graduates, researchers, academics, public or private institution employees, aspiring entrepreneurs, innovation teams, and start-up owners or founders, can participate in the TECHXTILE CHALLENGE, either individually or as a team.

06

CATEGORIES

The competition consists of two categories: Level-Up (Idea Stage Entrepreneur Category) and Scale-Up (Developed Product & Service Entrepreneur Category). Applications must be made in the relevant categories.

Level-Up | Idea Stage Entrepreneur Category (Individual or Team Entrepreneurs, Academics, Aspiring Entrepreneurs)

This category is for entrepreneurs whose ventures are still at the idea stage and are in the process of developing a product/service that meets basic user/customer expectations. The goal of this category is to support the transformation of innovative business ideas with commercialization potential into products.

Scale-Up | Developed Product & Service Entrepreneur Category (Individual or Team Entrepreneurs, Start-Up Companies, Academics)

This category is for entrepreneurs who have moved past the idea stage and have developed a product or service with commercialization and scaling potential. The most important requirement is that entrepreneurs must have already established their venture before applying to the program. The goal of this category is to help early-stage ventures with potential succeed in the market by supporting their Product/Market Fit discovery processes and networks.

Competition applications will be conducted in two stages; the first stage is a declaration-based online stage where the following documents are read and approved, and the second stage is when the following documents are requested from the project owners who make it to the final and are submitted with signatures to the Competition Secretariat (BUTEKOM).

07

APPLICATION AND EVALUATION PROCESS
  1. Online Application and Registration

Candidates who want to participate in the TechXtile Challenge 2025 must fill out the online application form completely and upload all relevant documents to the system in accordance with the specified schedule via the “Application” tab on www.techxtile.net. The application process includes the following steps:

 

  • Participants must download the Competition Specification, Annex 1: Letter of Undertaking/Application Form, Annex 2: KVKK (Personal Data Protection Law) Clarification Text, and Annex 3: Letter of Consent. They must initial every page, sign the relevant sections, and upload the scanned copies of these wet-signed documents to the system. Applications may be considered invalid if any initials or signatures are missing.
  • During the application, the competition specifications and KVKK consent must be approved via the system.
  • Candidates must select their application type from the category field under the “Project Upload” tab. Applications will be accepted in two categories: Level-Up (Idea Stage) and Scale-Up (Developed Product/Service). If the application type is deemed inappropriate, the program coordinators may inform the applicant and transfer it to the correct category.
  • Participants must completely fill in the personal information, project details, and team information requested in the application form. The main document to be attached to the application should be a presentation file that clearly conveys the project proposal. Supporting materials such as visuals, graphics, and tables can be added to this presentation.
  • Since project summaries and visuals will be included in the digital publications and a booklet distributed at the final ceremony, care should be taken with the quality of the visuals and content.
  • After completing the online application, contestants who pass the pre-selection must send a USB or CD containing the wet-signed originals and digital copies of all documents by cargo to the address below by the end of December 2025:

BUTEKOM – Emine Can ÖNER

Demirtaş Dumlupınar OSB Mahallesi, Çiğdem 2. Sokak No:1/4

16245 Osmangazi / BURSA

  • For technical support requests regarding applications, please email: project@butekom.org
  1. Evaluation Process

Pre-Selection – Evaluation Board

  • Applications will be evaluated by a jury composed of experienced industrialists, consultants, TTO and Technopark managers, and experts in the field of technological entrepreneurship.
  • Projects selected as a result of the pre-selection will be invited to the TechXtile training program.
  • Participants who complete the training will present their projects before an Evaluation Board consisting of R&D and Design Center managers, investors, textile industrialists, and technology experts.
  • Projects that pass the pre-selection and contestants who qualify to participate in the training process will be announced on the website. It is important for participants to follow these announcements.

Final Selection – Final Jury

  • The finalists determined by the Evaluation Board will receive mentorship support to develop their business models and will present their projects to the Final Jury at the final ceremony to be held in March 2026.
  • A total of six projects, the top three from each of the two categories, will be awarded. Additionally, one project will receive the Bahar Korçan Sustainability Special Award, and another will receive the Female Entrepreneur Special Award.

The documents must be prepared and the signing process must be completed by taking the following definitions into consideration:

  • Lead Project Manager: A founding team member and the authorized person for the project during the application and competition process. All official communication will be conducted through this person. (Signature is mandatory.)
  • Project Manager: Other individuals who are co-owners of the project or who have rights to it. They have the authority to sign documents. (Signature is mandatory.)

08

COMPETITION TIMELINE
  • Applications Open: July 30, 2025
  • Final Project Submission Date: October 3, 2025
  • General Entrepreneurship Seminar for All Participants – 1: October 15, 2025
  • General Entrepreneurship Seminar for All Participants – 2: October 21, 2025
  • Announcement of Pre-Selected Participants on the Website: November 3, 2025
  • Pitching Seminar for Pre-Selected Contestants: November 7, 2025
  • Selection of Semi-Finalist Projects by the Evaluation Board: November 22, 2025
  • Ongoing Mentorship Process for Finalist Contestants: November 25, 2025
  • Presentation Development Seminar Before Advanced Pitching: January 15-16, 2026
  • Advanced Pitching and Awards Ceremony: March 26, 2026

09

COMPETITION SCOPE AND THEME

The rise of technologically advanced countries is underpinned by the implementation of necessary technologies through innovation, which depends on the entrepreneur’s abilities and risk-taking. Entrepreneurship plays an active role in bringing these technologies to light, and it fosters economic growth by introducing innovative processes.

The responsibility for developing and promoting these two factors falls heavily on public institutions, as well as on companies operating in the industrial sector, R&D centers, and universities. Türkiye has also recognized the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship and is making significant investments in this area through all its institutions. The way to close the gap with technologically advanced countries is to support the innovative ideas, products, and services of entrepreneurs.

Based on this scope, the goal of the 7th TECHXTILE CHALLENGE DESIGN COMPETITION is to encourage anyone who develops ideas and products in the technological fields or focus areas that textile companies are working on, budgeting for R&D and innovation, and seeking collaborations, to participate, benefit from training and mentorship, and develop themselves.

Turkish citizens who have completed the age of 18, including students, graduates, researchers, academics, public or private institution employees, aspiring entrepreneurs, innovation teams, and start-up owners or founders, can participate in the 7th TECHXTILE CHALLENGE DESIGN COMPETITION either individually or as a team. Our main theme is EFFICIENCY, while focusing on projects within the following areas in textiles:

  • Digitalization, Information, Communication and Software Technologies
  • Advanced Materials
  • Process and Production Technologies
  • Environment and Sustainability
  • Technical Textiles
  • Domestic and National Production
  • New Fields, Products, and Technologies in the Context of the Pandemic (COVID-19 and beyond)
  • Technologies, Raw Materials, and Products for Earthquake Response For team applications, it is important to have people who are knowledgeable about these technologies.

10

SUCCESS STORIES

ILTEMA - Smart Heating Fabric

Turkish entrepreneurs produce bioplastic from olive pits.

Enterprise Next Interview

How Does Artificial Intelligence Create Designs? (Tech Life)

Peddon: Türkiye’s First Menstrual Underwear

11

INTERNATIONAL DESIGN SCHOLARSHOP

From the top 3 projects selected in the Scale-Up category who are eligible for an award, a total of 3 people (one from each project): the lead project owner or one of the co-owners (if any), who meets the condition of graduating with a bachelor’s degree from university departments related to industrial design/fashion design (in the case of group participation, 1 person declared in the Consent Form – Annex-3 who meets the eligibility criteria), may apply for the International Education Scholarship under Article 5 and Article 6 of the Circular on Support for International Education and Living Expenses within the scope of the Communiqué on Design Organization Support under Presidential Decree No. 5973 on Export Supports.

Article 5:

(1) Designers may benefit from the support for international education and living expenses under this Circular only once, as a single use.

(2) The international education and living expenses of designers who have graduated with a bachelor’s degree from university departments related to industrial design/fashion design are supported under this Circular.

(3) It is mandatory for designers approved by the Ministry to start their education during the academic term specified in their applications.

(4) The designer sent abroad for education must submit a certificate, diploma, or similar document proving completion of the education program to the relevant cooperation organization within 3 months after completion. The cooperation organization shall forward these documents to the Ministry.

(5) Support payments for international education and living expenses under this Circular are made only to the relevant cooperation organization. For the support payment to be made, the invoice for the expenditure must be issued in the name of the designer benefiting from the support, and the payment must be made by the relevant cooperation organization.

Article 6:

*Our contestants are responsible for following up-to-date information regarding the Circular on Design Organization Support on the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye’s website via the link below.

https://ticaret.gov.tr/data/6334202113b8769ec0647ede/TASARIM%20ORGAN%C4%B0ZASYONU%20DESTE%C4%9E%C4%B0NE%20%C4%B0L%C4%B0%C5%9EK%C4%B0N%20GENELGE.pdf

(1) Following the realization of the design organizations supported under this Circular, designers who rank in the top 3 (one designer determined by the team for each rank) and wish to apply for international education support apply to internationally recognized educational institutions for design, as specified in Annex-4 by the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye. After being accepted by the educational institutions they applied to for international education, designers apply to the cooperation organization that organized the design competition with the documents specified in Annex-3 by the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye. The relevant cooperation organization forwards the designers’ applications to the Ministry via DYS in April of each year, provided that it is within 2 calendar years following the year the competition took place, for the purpose of final review and determination of the designers who will receive international education support.

(2) The Ministry, in accordance with Annex-5, determines the designers who will benefit from the international education and living expenses support based on an evaluation that takes into account the educational institution the designer was accepted into, their foreign language proficiency, and their rank in the competition, and notifies the cooperation organizations via DYS.

(3) For a designer’s application for support to be evaluated, a foreign language exam result document equivalent to at least 60 points or higher on the YDS/e-YDS, or a score calculated based on the ÖSYM International Foreign Language Exam Equivalency Document, is required. The foreign language documents must have been obtained within the 3-year period prior to the end of April of the relevant year of application for support for international education and living expenses.

(4) Following the Ministry’s approval for the designers to be sent for international education, the relevant cooperation organization completes the necessary procedures with the accepted design school.

(5) As a result of the evaluation by the Ministry, a contract is concluded between the designer to be sent abroad for education and the relevant cooperation organization regarding the education to be received abroad and mutual obligations. This contract specifies that the designer receiving the education support:

  1. a) Shall provide training and consultancy services on fashion, trends, and industrial design for a period of 1 year, if requested by the relevant cooperation organization, after successfully completing their studies abroad.
  2. b) Shall not change the education program without the permission of the relevant cooperation organization.
  3. c) Shall not voluntarily leave the school they are studying at for a reason not accepted by the Ministry.
  4. d) In cases where they do not complete the education program within 1 year at the latest without a valid excuse, they shall undertake to repay the support provided under this Circular, within the framework of the provisions of the Law on the Collection Procedure of Public Receivables dated 21/7/1953 and numbered 6183.
  5. e) Shall provide a personal guarantor or other security in return for the undertakings given under subparagraph (ç), and include other matters deemed appropriate by the cooperation organizations.

*Information regarding applications for the design scholarship in schools abroad, provided by the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye, will be given separately to the ranking designers starting from the end of the competition (from the announcement of the ranks at the awards ceremony), and all documents requested along with the documents mentioned in Article 7 will be sent to the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye within the framework of this Circular.

*The project owner approved by the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye may be sent to an internationally recognized training center abroad for a maximum of one year, and the education and living expenses for this period will be covered within the framework of the said Circular.

*The conditions for applying for the said scholarship by UTİB will be communicated via an informative email within 2 (two) months from the date of the awards ceremony.

*After the informative email is received, the application process begins, provided that the specified provisions are adhered to.

*It is mandatory to submit the requested documents to UTİB as original, wet-signed papers, complete and in the requested format, by the specified date.

*Applications containing missing documents or submitted after the declared date will lose the right to apply.

*Gaining the right to apply and submitting documents does not guarantee winning the scholarship.

*The final decision-making authority for the said scholarship is the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye.

*The selected designers must meet the student admission requirements of the internationally recognized training centers abroad.

*The condition of being a citizen of the Republic of Türkiye is required.

*UTİB reserves the right to request presentations, reports, etc., from the project owners benefiting from the scholarship regarding topics, events, and activities to be determined by UTİB. The scholarship recipient is deemed to have accepted this with the submission of this specification.

*In the case of team participation, the project manager and team members will be asked to provide information on matters such as their responsibilities within the scope of the winning project and whether they are designers.