OPINA Project

OPINA is an open innovation autonomous vehicles (AV) development and testing platform committed to accelerating intelligent mobility software development by facilitating a comprehensive, dynamic and agile automotive innovation ecosystem.

Our aim at OPINA is to create Europe’s leading environment where innovators can focus on developing their automated mobility technologies in a highly supportive and networked community with all the resources they need.

At OPINA, we are radically transforming transportation

with Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM) technology,
with the OPINA Platform, which provides AV innovators with a state-of-the-art software development and testing platform, technical support, advanced collaboration and co-development tools, benchmarking, software tool chains, and more,
with the OPINA Testbed, where solutions can be tried out in both cutting-edge HIL/SIL/DIL test systems and the real world,
with R&D Guidance to find the right software methods, functional safety, intellectual property rights and any other consultancy that may help development teams,
with an Engaging and Dynamic Community of users from all technical disciplines, where innovators discuss and share ideas, meet specialists and industry partners, learn about the latest technical trends, and present their company, solutions and products,
with Certification Services, which provide performance evaluation, industry standard and regulatory compliance reviews and pre-certification conformance assessments on AV software prototypes during production,

Intentions Have No Limits at OPINA

OPINA is an international powerhouse for the development of CCAM technology where we foster innovation by bringing the whole value chain together – from resources to AV and ADAS research to industry – all in one place.

Our ecosystem is home to

Software Developers, Engineers, Researchers and Scientists
Small and Medium-Scaled Enterprises (SMEs)
R&D Organizations
University Labs
Industry Partners

At OPINA, software developers and engineers from all industries who are working on CCAM technologies are here – automotive, (intra-)logistics, precision farming, navigation, railway to name a few.

About OPINA Project

The OPINA Project is funded by the European Union and the Republic of Turkey under the EU Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA) II budget for Action 2: Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Activity and Topic 2.1: Research and Development and is implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Technology under the responsibility of the Transportation Technologies and Intelligent Automotive Systems Application and Research Center (TTIS) of Istanbul Okan University within the scope of the Competitive Sectors Program.

OPINA Project Objective

To create a science, technology and innovation ecosystem for startups, SMEs, universities and industry, where innovators can foster the development of high technology and novel high value-added technologies and products, which will support the economic and social development of the region and the European Union by increasing its overall knowledge level and competitiveness.

Operational Purpose of OPINA

To create a dynamic industry-university-SME innovation and collaborative ecosystem through the Innovative Autonomous and Communicating Vehicle Technology Development Center and the BOA Cluster. This collaborative environment will provide resources, support and related equipment to increase the global market competitiveness of BOA members and to contribute to the formation of new AV spin-offs and startups.

Contracting Authority: Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Turkey – DoEUFP (Directorate General for the European Union and Foreign Affairs and Directorate of the European Union Financial Programs)

ERA (End Recipient of Assistance): İstanbul Okan University

Prof. Dr. Semih Bilgen, OPINA Senior Representative İstanbul Okan University (SRER).
Prof. Dr. Orhan B. Alankuş, OPINA Operation Coordination Unit Director (OCUD); Faculty Member of Mechanical Engineering, Istanbul Okan University.
Prof. Dr. R. Nejat Tuncay, OPINA Technical Assistance Component Specialist; Faculty Member of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Director of Transportation Technologies and Intelligent Automotive Systems Application and Research Center (TTIS), Istanbul Okan University.
Prof. Dr. B. Tevfik Akgün, Infrastructure Supply Component Specialist; Department Chair of Computer Engineering, Istanbul Okan University.
Assoc. Prof. Ömer Cihan Kıvanç, OPINA Autonomous and Electric Vehicle Specialist; Department Chair of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Istanbul Okan University.
Assist. Prof. Sina Alp, Istanbul Okan University Electrical and Electronics Engineering Faculty Member, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Specialist.
Dr. Can Gökçe, Assistant Professor of Automotive Engineering, Istanbul Okan University.

Contractor: WYG International

Project Implementation Period: 01/06/2020 – 31/05/2023

Project Partners

MARKA (East Marmara Development Agency)
TAYSAD (Automotive Suppliers Association of Turkey)
TESİD (Turkish Electronics Industrialists’ Association)
YASAD (Software Industrialists’ Association)

Project Target Groups

The project targets stakeholders in the connected and autonomous vehicles ecosystem, including:

Independent Researchers, Software Developers and Scientists
Small Scale Enterprises
Medium Scale Companies
Start-ups
R&D Companies
Contract Research Organizations
OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers)
Automotive Suppliers
Electronics Manufacturers
Universities and Academic Research Labs
Sector Non-Governmental Organizations
Smart, Connected and Clean Mobility, collaborative structures and initiatives operating in the field of Connected and Autonomous Electric Vehicles