Dr. Ertugrul Akbas, a seasoned professional in research and development, seamlessly integrates industry and academia. Holding a doctoral degree in computer engineering and two master's degrees, he began his journey at Turkey's leading R&D institution and swiftly became the youngest project manager in the institution's history. TUBITAK is the equivalent governmental agency to the National Science Foundation (NSF) and government research centers in the United States. He ventured into entrepreneurship, founding four companies and managing high-profile projects for major organizations. He is also a part-time academician at Istanbul Esenyurt University.