ITEA 4 · News item · Community Talk with Özer Aydemir

First and foremost an engineer

ITEA has shaped many innovation journeys across Europe. For this engineer-entrepreneur, it became something more: a professional engine, a global network and even a second home. Özer Aydemir talks about engineering pride, resilience and what makes the ITEA Community unique.

Not so much a title as an identity

“I’m an engineer - and I’m proud of that. Engineering is difficult. We solve differential equations, study thermodynamics. When you earn that diploma, it means something.” A graduate of Bilkent University, he describes engineering not as a title but as an identity. Though he is a CEO, he introduces himself simply as an engineer. “Being a CEO is easier than being an engineer,” he laughs. “A grocery shop owner can be an entrepreneur. But engineering, that’s hard.”

Özer co-founded his company with university classmates – they are now working together decades later. Their shared competitive spirit fuels constant research and development. “My problem,” he admits, “is stopping them. Nobody pays us just for solving problems; they pay us for solving them commercially. Monetisation matters.”

A coincidence that changed everything

The ITEA connection began with a phone call in 2009. A former colleague from TÜBİTAK needed to invite five Turkish SMEs to an ITEA PO Day event in Istanbul. “Why not?” thought Özer, unaware that the decision would reshape his career.

The early years were humbling. Several proposals failed. Labels were missed. National funding didn’t come through. “We failed again. And again.” But, undeterred, he kept going: Paris, Berlin, Madrid. Then in 2012 came the breakthrough. Two proposals were labelled and funding secured. One project, BaaS, later won the ITEA Best Presentation Award. After project leader Christoph Niedermeier invited Özer on stage to hold the trophy together, five new invitations were forthcoming. Momentum had begun.

From projects to global business

When asked what makes the ITEA Community unique, Özer doesn’t hesitate. “Friendship.” Over 15 years, Europe has faced terror attacks, economic crises, earthquakes, even coup attempts. And whenever something happened in Türkiye, he received messages from his ITEA friends from across Europe. “That’s when I knew I was in the right place.” ITEA, he explains, combines warmth with rigor. “Friends may hug you in the evening but they will reject your weak proposal the next morning. They can give you the harshest criticism, and they’re right to do so.” In his words, it is a refined ecosystem. Weak ideas don’t survive. Dishonesty fades out. Strong collaboration remains.

Community friendship

ITEA projects, he explains, balance technological ambition with economic sustainability. “You’re asked the right questions, not only to convince evaluators but to ensure long-term success.” The European dimension is another key strength. “Expertise in Modelica and systems engineering is distributed across countries. ITEA provides the platform to combine those strengths.”

Either the product itself or the people I now do business with – they’re from the ITEA network

The next big thing: Quantum

While AI dominates today’s hype cycle, he sees the next bottleneck: CPU limitations. “Quantum computing will be the next wave. In three to five years it will mature. In six to ten, we’ll see real impact.” His team has already proposed quantum-related projects. Some have failed, but Özer is nothing if not persistent. He plans to remain active for at least 15 more years. “Sixteen projects is good. Maybe I’ll make it twenty-five.”

Balance, with family and friends

So how does he make time for family life? His answer is pragmatic. He works on Central European Time from Ankara. Mornings are for his children – breakfast, school routines. Evenings are shared responsibilities with his architect wife. And friends? “I work with them. When I want to hang out, I walk into the next room.”

Ultimately, ITEA is not just a funding framework for Özer, it is a platform where engineering identity, friendship and innovation converge. And for this proud engineer, that is the perfect equation.

Discover other Community Talk interviews: https://itea4.org/meet-the-sparks-of-itea.html