The ‘Artificial Intelligence Based Kelgren-Lawrence Staging System in Knee Joint Graphics’ project developed by Başkent University Adana Dr. Turgut Noyan Application and Research Center and Turkcell Technology by bringing together industrial and academic perspectives was awarded the first prize in the Research and Development Category.
Artificial Intelligence Awards of Turkey: A Milestone for AI in Healthcare
The ‘Kelgren-Lawrence Staging System for Knee Joint Radiographs Based on Artificial Intelligence’, developed through the collaboration of Başkent University Adana Dr. Turgut Noyan Practice and Research Center and Turkcell Technology, competed in the Turkey Artificial Intelligence Awards Competition. Organized for the first time this year by the Artificial Intelligence for My Country Association, the competition aims to strengthen the nation’s AI ecosystem on a global scale and position it as a competitive player. Represented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Salih Beyaz, a faculty member of Başkent University’s Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, the project won first place in the Research and Development Category. The award ceremony was held at the Information and Communication Technologies Authority Conference Hall, where Assoc. Prof. Dr. Salih Beyaz received the first-place award.
“Fast and Accurate Solutions”
Assessing the innovative project that won first place at the Turkey Artificial Intelligence Awards, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Salih Beyaz noted that it takes the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare a step further. The project provides fast and accurate solutions to critical orthopedic problems, such as diagnosing and classifying knee joint osteoarthritis in X-ray images, improving decision-support processes for physicians. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Beyaz explained:
**“Artificial intelligence promises a significant future, especially in the field of healthcare. Its most successful area is image processing—diagnosing and classifying diseases from medical images. Our project began by compiling over 15,000 images, forming the largest dataset in this field in our country. Since 2021, the academic expertise of Başkent University and the technological infrastructure of Turkcell Technology’s Artificial Intelligence Department have ensured the success of this project. Developing these innovative technologies domestically is of critical importance for our country. Processing patient data with local resources reduces dependency on foreign technologies.
With an aging population in our country and worldwide, orthopedic diseases and surgeries are expected to increase significantly in the near future. Projects like this one will facilitate fairer, more accessible, and standardized modern treatments for patients. From the perspective of the Social Security Institution and private insurance companies, such initiatives can help in creating more efficient and sustainable economic planning.”**
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Salih Beyaz also emphasized the importance of representing Turkey in the international arena through innovative solutions in healthcare technologies. He noted that such projects are prime examples of digital transformation in healthcare and are expected to find more application areas in the future.