Teknopark Istanbul is a deep techonology center in order to contribute to the technology development capacity of domestic and international entrepreneurs and companies. Teknopark Istanbul officially started operating as a Technology Development Zone in 2010 after a partnership agreement was signed between the Presidency of Defense Industries, Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, and Istanbul Commerce University. Teknopark Istanbul is a part of Advanced Technology Industrial Park and Airport Project (ITEP), was established to provide the necessary technological infrastructure for the Defense Industry Directorate in Istanbul. In 1988, a 13 million square meter land was expropriated in Pendik, Istanbul for ITEP, with 2.5 million square meters reserved for Teknopark Istanbul. Teknopark Istanbul hosts more than 400 R&D companies and more than 110 entrepreneurs in the fields of def ense industry, aerospace, maritime, advanced electronics, energy, health sciences and indlustrial software.