In the world of technology, electronic components are evolving from inanimate objects that merely power devices into independent decision-making mechanisms. This massive transformation, occurring in sectors ranging from lifts and electric vehicles to smart home appliances and defence systems, is fostering new collaborations within Türkiye’s technology ecosystem. With a deep-rooted 44-year history in the industry, Empa Elektronik announced at the SAHA EXPO 2026 exhibition that it is transitioning from a component supplier to a solution partner that designs technology itself, introducing its "Empa 2.0" vision and new umbrella brand, TIREMO. In line with this vision, a strategic agreement was signed with the domestic chip design company YONGATEK. As a result of this partnership, domestic microchips designed entirely by Turkish engineers will be integrated into millions of smart devices, establishing a brand-new technology network in both the domestic market and the global arena.
Transition from Supply to Technology Production: Empa 2.0 Vision
Designing a new electronic product and making it ready for factory production is currently a long and costly process for companies. Empa Elektronik is fundamentally changing this process with its new business model, Empa 2.0. The company openly shares its developed hardware designs and software libraries with its customers.
Thanks to this next-generation R&D model, industrialists producing smart devices do not lose time with design from scratch. The new platform introduced by Empa at SAHA EXPO, named TIREMO, offers pre-tested, reliable building blocks in many fields, from the defence industry to industrial automation. Thus, while design risks for manufacturers are reduced, the time-to-market for new technologies gains significant momentum.
Intelligence Inside the Device (Edge AI): Fast Decision-Making Systems Without Internet
At the core of the YONGATEK and Empa collaboration lies Edge AI, which is changing the rules of the game in the technology world. Our smartphones or computers usually send data to cloud servers via the internet to perform an operation and wait for the response to return. However, an autonomous vehicle travelling at hundreds of kilometres per hour or a UAV does not have the time to wait for this latency.
These new systems, which the two companies are working on, process data within milliseconds directly using the chips inside the device, without the need to send data to the cloud. This AI technology, which operates without an internet connection, ensures devices consume less energy while creating an unbreakable security shield against cyber attacks. This real-time data processing capability stands out as a critical success factor in many vital projects, from military operations to swarm UAV flights.
Domestic Chips Enter the Field: ÇENTİK to be Integrated into Millions of Devices
The most concrete steps to reduce Türkiye's foreign dependency in the electronics sector are being proven by the commercial success of domestic chips designed by YONGATEK. ÇENTİK, the domestic microcontroller developed by YONGATEK, has moved beyond being a project on paper and is being directly integrated into the industry.
Within the scope of the agreements made, a massive annual production volume of 25 million units for the ÇENTİK chip is targeted with a leading white goods manufacturer. Furthermore, the export of the chip to Dubai demonstrates how competitive national solutions are in the international market. With the integration of domestic microchips such as ÇENTİK, KIRMIK, and SAKA into Empa’s TIREMO platform, industrialists will be able to access ready-made and domestic hardware packages directly instead of seeking chips from external sources.
Expansion into Europe and IPO Target
This technological transformation carries a growth strategy that transcends geographical borders, aiming not to remain solely within Türkiye. Opening up to the European market with its office in Budapest, Hungary, Empa Elektronik is also deepening its influence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region through its operations based in Dubai and Egypt.
The Initial Public Offering (IPO) process, for which Empa is continuing its preparations, will place the financial infrastructure of this global technology network on a much stronger foundation. This capital and transparent corporate structure will ensure that Turkish engineering remains a permanent player in the global league. These steps, which strengthen the digital infrastructure of strategic projects such as KAAN, Togg, and MİLGEM, reinforce Türkiye’s goal of ascending from a hardware-supplying country to a direct technology architect.
