Turkey ranked at the top in number of papers at the International Astronautical Congress
Speaking at the IAC2026 congress in Antalya, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Dirican discussed the future of the space economy and next-generation workforce requirements.
Participating in the 77th International Astronautical Congress in Antalya, astroeconomist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Dirican evaluated Turkey's leadership in paper submissions and the massive economic potential offered by the space sector.
International Participation and Congress Details
Organized in the city of Antalya, the 77th International Astronautical Congress, briefly known as IAC2026, brought together scientists, space agencies, and industry representatives from 108 different countries around the world on the same platform.
Turkey's Leadership in Number of Papers
While a total of 8,330 papers were submitted to the congress from 108 countries, it was announced that 1,810 of them originated from Turkey. Out of the 4,077 accepted papers, 674 came from Turkey, securing the country the first place in the rankings with this figure.
Expanding Areas of the Space Economy
Astroeconomist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Dirican stated that the space economy is not limited to rocket and satellite technologies alone, and that new business models will rapidly take shape in the healthcare, logistics, data security, and finance sectors in the coming period.
Qualified Workforce in the Industry of the Future
It was emphasized that with the growth of the space sector, there will be an intense need for lawyers, finance experts, and data scientists in addition to engineers.