Final Declaration of the first International Iron and Steel Symposium Hosted by Karabuk University, the first International Iron and Steel Symposium (IISS'12) was held in April 2-4, 2012, Karabuk, in cooperation with Gedik University, Istanbul Technical University, Izmir Institute of Technology, Yıldız Technical University, Yalova University, The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, Kardemir A.Ş., Turkish Steel Exporters' Association, Turkish Iron and Steel Producers Association, and Turkish Structural Steel Association. The symposium brought together 1,000 participants, 30 of them from abroad, and 187 papers and 50 posters were presented. The special panels related to iron and steel sectors were organized and the leading international scientists in iron and steel field were involved in as invited speakers. In addition, Iron and Steel Institute, Karabuk University, which was being waited with longing, was inaugurated. The companies that exist in iron and steel production industry or the firms that serve to iron and steel industry, which are Kardemir A.Ş., Kibar Holding, Gedik Welding, Hilal Bearing, Sensor-HBM, EagleBurgmann, GA, HECO, K-TEC, Aksiyon, and MAK Electronics, were played part in the exhibition and presentations to introduce their products. The main topics of the symposium were Metallurgy-materials, Process, Casting, Heat treatment, Welding/Joining, Forming/Machining, Coatings/Corrosion, Automation, Energy/Environment, Product ranges, Marketing/Finance, Raw material transport, and Occupational Health and Safety. The openings of the symposium, which was in Prof. Dr. Bektaş Açıkgöz Conference Hall, was done with the participation of Mehmet Ali Şahin, the XXIII. period head of Turkish Grand National Assembly and MP to Karabuk, İzzettin Küçük, the governor of Karabuk, Prof. Dr. Davut Kavranoğlu, vice ministry of Science, Industry and Technology Ministry, Mehmet Ceylan, vice ministry of Development Ministry, Rafet Vergili, the mayor of Karabuk, Prof. Dr. Burhanettin Uysal, the rector of Karabuk University, Prof. Dr. M. Niyazi Eruslu, the rector of Yalova University, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Güden, the rector of İzmir Institute of Technology, Prof. Dr. Orhan Büyükalaca, the rector of Osmaniye Korkut Ata University, Abidin ÜNSAL, the asistant governor of Karabuk, the members of administrative board of Kardemir A.Ş., the members of Karabuk city protocols, many local and foreigner academicians, iron and steel producers, technology producing firms, exporters and importers as well as nongovernmental organisations, the organisations that supported to the symposium, and many invited people. The first International Iron and Steel Symposium proceeded with panels and seminars. The topic named "Iron and Steel Production Strategy in Turkey" was discussed at the first panel of the symposium. The chairman of the panel was Prof. Dr. Mustafa Güden, the rector of İzmir Institute of Technology, and the invited panellists were Dr. Veysel Yayan, the general secretary of Turkish Iron and Steel Producers Association, Namık Ekinci, the head of administration board of Turkish Steel Exporters' Association, Ki Wook Kim, the director of quality and technology of Posco Assan TSK, Fadıl Demirel, the general director of Kardemir A.Ş., Mustafa Koçak, the ceo of Gedik Holding, and Bülent SAYGILI, the representative of Tosyalı Holding. In the second day session, chaired by Prof. Dr. Erdoğan Tekin from Material Engineering Department, Atılım University, the presentations that could shape the future in production and quality of iron and steel industry were delivered. The presentations were made by Prof. Dr. Sung Joon Kim, Prof. Dr. Kiyotaka Matsuura, Prof. Dr. Ivan Enrique Campos Silva, Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Çimenoğlu, from Metallurgy and Materials Department, Chemistry and Metallurgy Faculty, ITU, and Moon Kyu Shim, who are internationally well known academicians in iron and steel industry. The afternoon at the same day, the panel was moderated by Prof. Dr. İsmail Yüksek, the rector of Yıldız Technical University at the title of "The Strategies for Developing Skilled Workforce in Iron and Steel Industry". The panellists were Prof. Dr. Oğuz Borat, the head deputy of central executive committee of Istanbul Commerce University, Prof. Dr. Eyüp Sabri Kayalı, Istanbul Technical University, A. Kerim Dervişoğlu, the investment coordinator of Kibar Holding, Dr. Osman Yıldız, the general sectary of HAKİŞ Union. The first session at the third day was chaired by Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Çimenoğlu, Metallurgy and Materials Department, Chemistry and Metallurgy Faculty, ITU, was about the methods of quality products development in iron and steel industry, and rail production strategy. The presenters were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Baydoğan, Metallurgy and Materials Department, Chemistry and Metallurgy Faculty, ITU, Mehmet Yanmaz, the assistant of general director of Kardemir A.Ş., Prof. Dr. Nazmi Bilir, Public Health Division, Medical Faculty, Hacettepe University, Prof. Dr. Erdoğan Tekin, Material Engineering Department, Atılım University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dr. Hakan Güler, Transportation Division, Civil Engineering Department, Sakarya University. Under favour of the symposium, the national and international well known academicians in iron and steel industry, the representatives of iron and steel institutes in abroad, iron and steel producers, the companies that produce technologies to iron and steel sector, exporters, importers, and the nongovernmental organisations that act in the field got the chance to come together. By the symposium organised, the knowledge and experience of the people and the companies that act in the sector were shared and determination a policy of the research and investment for the future was enabled. Detailed information related to the symposium can be accessed via the websites of www.iiss12.com and http://iiss12.karabuk.edu.tr Sincerely, Prof. Dr. Burhanettin UYSAL Rector