Born in Turkey and raised in Germany, he has dedicated his life to creating safer and smarter cities. He leads the development of innovative smart city technology at Ekin Smart City Technologies, receiving accolades such as the Red Dot Design Award, the German Innovation Award, and the CES Innovation Award.

Driven by a desire to reduce traffic accidents and save lives, he believes that smart city technologies will play a vital role in ensuring security for citizens worldwide. As a member of ICERT, he contributes to the advancement of global safe city technologies and public safety. Today, Ekin’s innovative solutions can be found in cities, airports, shopping centers, campuses, and arenas across the globe.

A track record of innovation, entrepreneurship, and success.

From a young age, Akif Ekin was fascinated by innovation, which eventually led him to study aerospace engineering at the University of Stuttgart. During his studies, he founded Akart, a lamp design company that showcased his creativity and passion for design.

After graduation, he moved to Istanbul, where he began distributing Sanyo products across the EMEA region. In 1998, he founded Ekin Electronics, which later became Ekin Smart City Solutions.

Akif Ekin’s groundbreaking invention, the world’s first smart patrol with facial recognition, revolutionized mobile enforcement and city safety.

His company started by developing safety technologies for high-profile events like the NATO Summit 2004 and FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany, and continues to lead the industry with innovative smart city solutions.