The "SAHA MBA 2020" program, prepared in cooperation with TÜBİTAK TÜSSİDE and SAHA Istanbul Defence, Aerospace and Space Cluster Association, has started. The program, whose opening speeches were delivered by Mehmet Fatih KACIR, Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology, Prof. Dr. Hasan MANDAL, President of TÜBİTAK, and Haluk BAYRAKTAR, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SAHA Istanbul, continued with the training titled "Strengthening Leadership" presented by Prof. Dr. Michael USEEM, chair of leadership at Wharton Business School (University of Pennsylvania).

TÜBİTAK TÜSSİDE's experience in management sciences and SAHA Istanbul's knowledge of the sector enabled the MBA program to be designed specifically for the needs of the sector. The 222-hour program, which will be offered through online and face-to-face trainings on the themes of "Institutionalization and Business Management", "Data-Driven Decision Making", "Product Development from Idea to Market", "Financial Management" and "Technology Trends and Innovation", was stated by Mehmet Fatih KACIR, Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology, as one of the most important programs that train defense industry leaders. The SAHA MBA program, which was launched in 2019 with the aim of becoming a world brand and offering a transformative learning experience, will be offered simultaneously in three different locations, Istanbul, Ankara and Gaziantep, over a period of six months in 2020. By spreading the implementation plan over six months, it is desired to make maximum use of the principle of "teaching the process". The program, where the trainings will be given by trainers with industry knowledge and experience; will be supported by the topics to be presented by the keynote speakers listed below.

• Prof. Dr. Ali Taha KOÇ (CB DDO President): Turkey's Digital Transformation Journey and Position in the World
• Prof. Dr. Celal Sami TÜFEKÇİ (Vice President of SSB): R&D and Technology Management in the Turkish Defense Industry
• Haluk BAYRAKTAR (Chairman of SAHA Istanbul Board of Directors): Defense Industry Ecosystem
• Prof. Dr. Hasan MANDAL (President of TÜBİTAK): Science, Technology and Innovation Ecosystem: New Processes Centered on TÜBİTAK
• Mehmet Fatih KACIR (Deputy Minister of STB): Industrial Strategies and National Technology Move

Measurement and evaluation activities will be carried out throughout the process and certificates will be given to the participants who are entitled to receive certificates according to these evaluations.