Transforming Forensic Science: Highlights from IAFS 2026

The 24th Triennial Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Sciences (IAFS 2026) in Sofia, Bulgaria, highlighted key innovations shaping the future of global forensic capabilities.

Mustafa Ahmet Kılıç from TÜBİTAK UZAY (TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute) presented Türkiye’s comprehensive strategic vision, demonstrating how high-tech space, optical, and digital research are being adapted for regional security, capacity building, and criminal investigation.

TÜBİTAK UZAY: Driving Technological Innovation

As Türkiye’s primary institute for space technologies, TÜBİTAK UZAY brings advanced satellite, optical, and deep-space expertise to the forensic sector.

Core Technical Foundations

Track Record in Space: Managed 5 satellites in space, over 93 indigenous equipment/units operating in orbit, and accumulated 11,600 total operating days in space.
Specialized Infrastructure: Operates main facilities at the Middle East Technical University (METU) Campus, alongside the Optical Systems Research Laboratory in Lalahan / Ankara.

BALİSTİKA Solution Ecosystem

TÜBİTAK UZAY's flagship BALİSTİKA ecosystem provides automated 3D firearm and cartridge-case identification, offering flexible deployment models for varied operational needs.

BALİSTİKA Standalone

All-in-one independent workstations granting regional laboratories full operational autonomy and localized data management.

BALİSTİKA Clustered

High-capacity, centralized server architecture designed for nationwide ballistic databases and national security scalability.

BALİSTİKA Go

Ruggedized, field-ready mobile units providing rapid crime scene analysis and immediate leads without waiting for evidence transport.

Education Edition

Customized classroom modules enabling hands-on training for students and trainees using actual 3D ballistic matching tools.

TÜBİTAK UZAY Digital Analysis Solutions

A Three-Tier Digital Analysis Architecture provides structured verification, clarity, and deep-learning analysis across three core domains.

Tier	Capabilities & Focus Areas
Image & Video Analysis	Camera attribution/classification, visual recognition & verification (face verification, license plate recognition), and video enhancement.
Audio Analysis	Forgery & deepfake detection for AI-generated audio, automatic speaker verification systems, and audio clarification/enhancement.
Document Analysis	Offline signature verification and handwritten text verification to validate physical authenticity.

Türkiye’s National Forensic Architecture & Strategy

Türkiye’s institutional structure ensures rigorous standard enforcement and evidence integrity across international borders.

Operations under the EGM Criminal Department (Turkish National Police) and the Jandarma Forensic Command (Gendarmerie General Command) guarantee a strict, unbreakable chain of custody.

Key national forensic infrastructure— spanning law enforcement, military commands, judicial authorities, and academic research institutes—maintains active ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation within the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI).

An overarching strategic initiative guiding Türkiye's transition from an importer of forensic software to a primary global exporter of advanced physical and digital forensic solutions.

Strategic Regional Contributions to Asian Forensic Sciences

Türkiye is utilizing its domestic expertise to foster multilateral alliances across Asia.

Turkic Forensic Science Network (TFSN)

Established on April 3, 2026, in Baku, Azerbaijan, by member states of the Organization of Turkic States (Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan).

Collaborative Focus: Joint scientific research, artificial intelligence integration, cybercrime response, and countering synthetic drug trafficking.
Training & Standardizing: Harmonizing testing protocols, enabling professional exchanges, and sharing educational platforms.

Strategic Asian Roadmap Initiatives

The “Silk Road” of Safety

Building a unified regional forensic exchange protocol (similar to Interpol or TFSN) using BALİSTİKA’s multi-national hosting architecture.

Weapon Registration Legislation

Offering technical and legal frameworks to track firearms through their entire lifecycle—from manufacturing to disposal— using a reference database to deter weapon-related crime.

Regional “Centers of Excellence”

Establishing multi-agency hubs to maintain unified 3D digital evidence standards, provide local equipment calibration, and deliver continuous training for regional self-sufficiency.