Mehmet Önat

With more than 25 years of experience in information technologies, digital transformation, R&D and innovation, Mehmet Niyazi Önat has developed and steered strategic projects across a wide range of industries, from defence to automotive and finance.

A pioneer in Türkiye’s IT sector in the fields of digital transformation, entrepreneurship and technology management, Önat has led flagship projects and received multiple awards, making a significant contribution to the ecosystem.

He began his career in 1997 as a Sales Manager at Erel Teknoloji AŞ, the Sony Professional distributor, and later took on key responsibilities in defence industry digital transformation and programme execution, playing a leading role in the establishment of Meteksan Savunma. In 2008, he joined Koç Group and contributed to the founding of Koç Bilgi ve Savunma AŞ, where he established the first private-sector R&D centre in Türkiye’s IT industry, setting a benchmark for the sector. He also mentored the creation of several other R&D centres within Koç Group.

Through his mentoring work at ITÜ ARI Çekirdek, he has helped young entrepreneurs build robust innovation strategies, supporting the growth of a technology-driven entrepreneurship culture across the sector. At KoçSistem, he led innovation processes through his work in R&D and Intellectual Property Management, as well as in TÜBİTAK-TEYDEB and European Union projects as project leader.

Önat has also helped bring cutting-edge international approaches to Türkiye, completing executive programmes such as “Disruptive Strategy with Clayton Christensen” at Harvard Business School (2017) and “Innovation of Products and Services: MIT’s Approach to Design Thinking” at MIT Management Executive Education (2022).

Since 2019, he has introduced new technologies to Ford Otosan through innovative approaches to technology management within the Digital Products and Services Leadership team. He currently serves as Chief Technology Strategist at Binovative.

Through his work in information technologies and digital transformation, Önat continues to contribute to Türkiye’s innovation and technology management landscape, while also bringing his inventive side into practice with six national patents to his name.