Cybersecurity and AI
🚀 Want to meet the Turkish minds shaping deep tech in the Little Red Dot?
Join us for a night that's authentic and meaningful, where academic research meets industry reality, over Turkish tea and good conversation.
✨ Highlights
One threat. Two perspectives:
🎓 Academic: Dr Ertem Esiner — Research Lead, Illinois ARCS
🎓 Academic: Dr Xenia R. Santos — Postdoctoral Researcher, Illinois ARCS
💼 Industry: Selcuk Beyhan — Founder, Tosba Tech
How will AI reshape the cybersecurity domain?
Meet Turkish tech professionals in Singapore
📅 Date: Thursday, 14 May 2026
⏰ Time: 18:00 – 20:30
📍 Venue: Illinois ARCS, CREATE Tower, Level 2, 1 Create Way, Singapore
🕒 Event Agenda
6:00 PM — Registration & networking (with light bites and Turkish tea!)
6:30 PM — Opening remarks by H.E. Sadık Arslan, Ambassador of Türkiye to Singapore
6:35 PM — Talk 1: Dr Ertem Esiner & Dr Xenia R. Santos
(30 min + 10 min Q&A)7:15 PM — Talk 2: Selcuk Beyhan
(20 min + 10 min Q&A)7:45 PM — Networking over another round of Turkish tea/baklava
8:30 PM — Close
🎤 About the Speakers
Dr Ertem Esiner is a Research Lead at Illinois ARCS, where he works on cryptography, AI for cybersecurity, cyber-physical systems, and resilient internet infrastructure, bridging academic research with deployable industry outcomes. He received his Ph.D. from NTU and serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at SUTD.
Dr Xenia R. Santos is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Illinois ARCS, working on machine learning, network security, and cyber-physical systems.
Selcuk Beyhan, the Founder of Tosba Tech, a Singapore-based cybersecurity firm, brings over two decades of experience in IT security. Previously, he led APAC IT security for a major international bank. He is passionate about helping businesses navigate the evolving cybersecurity landscape and develop robust defences.
🇹🇷 Honored Guest
We are deeply honored to welcome H.E. Sadık Arslan, Ambassador of Türkiye to Singapore, who will deliver the opening remarks, reflecting the growing connection between Turkish and Singaporean innovation ecosystems.
🏆 About the Organizer
The Turquoise Dot is Singapore's first Turkish tech and research community: bringing together students, researchers, academics, founders, and professionals through quarterly deep tech meetups across the city.
Gathering Turkish minds around deep tech conversations that matter
Collaborating with Singapore's tech ecosystem
Connecting Türkiye ↔ Singapore through technology
Our kickoff event at SMU sold out with 50 attendees. This is Event #2, and we'd love you to be part of it!
🏅 Venue Host
Illinois ARCS (Advanced Research Center at Singapore) is a deep-tech research hub based in CREATE Tower, focusing on breakthrough innovations in interactive cyber-infrastructures. It is an affiliated Singapore company of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Illinois), with its research center led by Illinois faculty and a Singapore-based research and administrative team. We're grateful to Illinois ARCS for hosting Event #2.
🤝 Supporters
NTU Turkish Cultural Group: the Turkish/Turkic student community at Nanyang Technological University, fostering cultural exchange and connection.
Singapore Turkey Friendship Association (STFA): organizes cultural events ranging from culinary exchanges to art exhibitions to enhance a positive impact on society.
The Mediterranean Deli Turk: a Singapore-based Turkish delicatessen serving authentic Turkish food and community since 2001.
🎁 Lucky Draw
Stay until the end for a chance to win. Details will come soon!
📍 Getting There
CREATE Tower, 1 Create Way, Singapore 138602.
By MRT:
Alight at Kent Ridge MRT Station (CC24, Circle Line) and proceed to Lower Kent Ridge Road Exit
Proceed to Bus Stop No. 18221 (right after NUH entrance)
Take bus service “D2” to University Town. Alight at University Town Bus Stop
By Bus:
Bus services along Dover Road: 33,196
Bus services after NUS Museum: 95, 96, 151.
Take shuttle bus “D1” or “D2” and alight one stop after. Alternatively, walk along the sheltered link bridge to reach University Town Plaza.
By Car:
For parking and driving directions, see: https://illinois-arcs.edu.sg/contact-us/