# 2nd National Stainless Steel Summit Convenes in Istanbul

> Organized by the Stainless Steel Industry Association (PASSAD), the 2nd National Stainless Steel Summit was held on October 13, 2026, at the Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) Süleyman Demirel Cultural Center. Convening under the theme "The Near-Future Transformation of the Stainless Steel Industry in Turkey," the summit brought together industrial stakeholders, academics, and policymakers to evaluate global competitiveness, supply chain realignments, carbon border regulations, and specialized human capital.

Published: 2026-10-15T08:27:00+00:00
Language: en
Categories: [News](https://chemexworld.com/en/categories/news.md)

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## Content

Aiming to strengthen Turkey’s metallurgical competitiveness and scale industry-academia R&D initiatives, the summit convened at İTÜ Süleyman Demirel Cultural Center. Key panels analyzed geopolitical trade realignments, raw material accessibility, decarbonization mandates under the European Green Deal, and expanding demand across high-performance end-use markets including automotive, defense, and industrial processing.

In his opening address, **Ji Seob Choi, Chairman of the Board of PASSAD**, thanked İTÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal for hosting the assembly, noting that the platform serves as an operational catalyst for evaluating advanced metallurgical technologies and executing shared sustainability objectives.

### Operational Perspectives: Academic Integration and Strategic Materials

Key strategic takeaways from the summit’s leadership addresses include:

- **Translating Industry Needs into Academic Research:** Highlighting that the first summit connected 467 participants across more than 100 industrial firms, **PASSAD Secretary General Dr. Erdem Şireli** noted that PASSAD's work over the past year has centered on university collaborations and specialized technical training. Şireli underscored the need for direct alignment where industrial processing challenges immediately guide university research priorities and technical career pathways.
- **The Three Transformation Pillars:** Emphasizing that geoeconomic and geotechnological developments are redefining global trade flows, **Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, Rector of Istanbul Technical University**, noted that stainless steel must be strategically classified as a critical engineering material rather than an undifferentiated commodity. Mandal identified three pillars shaping the industry's horizon—science-driven high-value manufacturing, circular green transition standards, and AI-enabled digital processes—reaffirming İTÜ’s commitment to driving applied R&D and equipping engineering personnel for the sector.