The first gathering of Axis Circle took place in Sapanca on August 29, 2026. Moving beyond the city and conventional event venues, this inaugural gathering was an attempt to explore technology in a setting surrounded by nature, considering it not merely through the lens of technical developments but also in relation to power, politics, and the international system.

Under the theme “The Technopolitical Age and the New World Order,” we examined how technology is reshaping global power dynamics, the room for maneuver available to states, the growing influence of corporations, and the transformation of societies from different perspectives. Moderated by Axis Network Founder Rıfat Özcan, with contributions from Dr. Alp Cenk Arslan and Büşra Begçecanlı, the discussion explored the emerging arenas of competition created by technological transformation within the international system, as well as possible future trajectories.

At the heart of the gathering was a simple question: Is it possible to understand a world increasingly shaped by technology through technology alone? As the discussions unfolded, it became increasingly clear that subjects ranging from engineering to international relations, from artificial intelligence to global power struggles, and from corporations to states could not be considered in isolation.

This was precisely the idea behind the creation of Axis Circle: to bring technology and politics, engineering and the social sciences, and today’s challenges and tomorrow’s possibilities to the same table. We sought to create a space for discussion in which people from different disciplines could examine the same transformation through their respective conceptual frameworks, challenge one another’s questions, and generate new lines of inquiry.

In this respect, the first gathering in Sapanca was not merely an event but also the first experiment with a new format. By moving beyond offices, conference halls, and conventional event structures, we aimed to bring together people from different disciplines in a more open and informal environment for intellectual exchange.

With this inaugural gathering, organized in partnership with Axis Network, Fluxus Coffee, and the TeknoPolitika Ecosystem, the foundations of Axis Circle were laid.

We held the first edition of TeknoPolitika Meetups on 15 August 2026 at THK Orion & TEKMER in Ankara. Bringing together participants from a wide range of disciplines, this first gathering was designed as more than a networking event; it was also an experiment in method.

For a closer look at the discussions, key insights, and outcomes of TeknoPolitika Meetups #01, download the full event report below.

Download the Event Report

Our expert academic speakers delivered talks on AI investments in the Gulf states, techno-political competition in the Asia-Pacific, psychological operations in the techno-political domain, and disinformation.

At the heart of the event were the Scenario Tables. Participants were divided into four groups, each built around a different theme, question, and combination of disciplines. The tables focused on politics, engineering, OSINT, and 2030 future scenarios.

At each table, brainstorming became a process of collective production. Questions raised by social scientists encountered the perspectives and answers of engineers, and vice versa, generating new questions in the process. The format was an attempt to put one of TeknoPolitika’s founding ideas into practice: how can different disciplinary languages speak to one another around the same table?

We would like to thank THK & Orion TEKMER for hosting the event and providing us with the venue, Axis Circle, and our sister community Kollektif Zeka for their valuable contributions.