Bringing together representatives of the global technology and investment ecosystem with Türkiye's leading entrepreneurs, GO! GLOBAL Türkiye Summit continued on its second day in Istanbul. The summit, of which Anadolu Agency is the Global Communication Partner, was organized in cooperation with the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) Türkiye-US Business Council (TAİK) Digital Working Group and Endeavor Türkiye. It was stated that the global investment size represented at the summit reached 800 billion dollars.
Stating that they aim for Türkiye to become a global center in the fields of technology, entrepreneurship and investment, Kacır said that research and development (R&D) expenditures in the country have increased from 1.2 billion dollars to approximately 20 billion dollars in the last 20 years. He reported that the share of R&D expenditures in national income increased from 0.5 percent to 1.46 percent.
Stating that more than 13 thousand technology companies and more than 1700 R&D and design centers operate in 115 technoparks across Turkey, Kacır noted that Türkiye has developed systems that compete in international markets in the field of defense and aerospace and is the 11th largest exporter of defense solutions in the world.
Kacır stated that Türkiye had no unicorn companies in 2019, but today there are 8 technology companies that exceed the billion-dollar valuation threshold, and said:
"Today, we have 8 technology companies that have crossed the billion-dollar valuation threshold and which we proudly call Turcorn. For us, these achievements are not the pinnacle of our efforts, on the contrary, they offer a preview of the much greater potential of Türkiye's technology ecosystem. We aim to encourage the establishment of 100 thousand startups in Türkiye by 2030 and increase the total valuation of our Turcorns to 100 billion dollars."
Stating that the Turcorn 100 Program was launched to support startups that are candidates to become Turcorns, Kacır said that 43 technology companies have participated in the program so far. Kacır stated that companies provide access to international investors, strategic partnerships, mentorship and opportunities to expand into global markets.
Emphasizing that artificial intelligence is one of Türkiye's priority technology areas, Kacır said that they want Türkiye to be a country where these technologies are developed, widely used and exported to global markets.
Stating that the Turkey Artificial Intelligence Action Plan covering the period 2026-2030 includes 16 priority actions, Kacır noted that within the scope of the plan, it is aimed to train 10 thousand advanced artificial intelligence experts and 100 thousand application professionals within two years, and also to provide artificial intelligence literacy training to 5 million citizens.
Stating that it is aimed to increase Türkiye's installed data center capacity to at least 1 gigawatt by 2030, Kacır stated that it is aimed to mobilize at least 10 billion dollars of investment in this direction.
Kacır stated that 3 billion dollars of public support was allocated for data center and artificial intelligence investments within the scope of the HIT-30 High Technology Investment Program.
Pointing out that the investments received by Turkish technology startups have increased, Kacır stated that the investment amount, which was 280 million dollars in the 2011-2015 period, exceeded 5.7 billion dollars in the last five years.
Kacır stated that an additional public resource of 300 million dollars was allocated to venture capital funds in May, and that more than 750 million dollars of financing is expected to be mobilized with private sector contributions.
Stating that Togg is one of the concrete examples of Türkiye's technology vision, Kacır noted that more than 120 thousand vehicles have hit the roads so far. He stated that young people were supported in the field of technology through programs such as TEKNOFEST and DENEYAP Technology Workshops, and that approximately 2,700 technology startups were contributed to the establishment of approximately 2,700 technology startups within the scope of the BiGG Program.
Stating that Türkiye offers opportunities for global investors with its strategic location, economic growth, large domestic market and qualified human resources, Kacır said that the country's economy has grown at an average annual rate of over 5 percent in the last 20 years.
Stating that Türkiye has a population exceeding 86 million and approximately 23 million primary, secondary and higher education students, Kacır also touched upon investments in energy infrastructure. Stating that approximately 8 gigawatts were added to the electricity generation capacity last year, Kacır stated that it is aimed to add 8 to 10 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity every year in the next 10 years.
Kacır also noted that the e-Government Gateway has reached approximately 70 million registered users with more than 9,400 services. Stating that Türkiye is among Europe's leading producers in the production of commercial vehicles, buses, home appliances, steel and solar panels, Kacır stated that this industrial infrastructure provides advantages for technology companies and investors in terms of product development, testing and marketing.
Stating that highly qualified technology professionals can obtain a work permit in two weeks with the Turkey TechVisa Program, Kacır said that the old terminal buildings of Atatürk Airport have been transformed into one of the world's largest technology and entrepreneurship centers under the Terminal Istanbul brand.
At the end of his speech, Kacır called on global venture capital funds and technology leaders and said:
"We will continue to bring promising startups together with investors, strengthen cooperation between industry and entrepreneurs, and create new opportunities for international partnerships. We invite global venture capital funds and technology leaders to invest in Türkiye's entrepreneurial potential, establish long-term partnerships and share the value created by globally competitive new generation technology companies. Here you will find ambitious entrepreneurs, talented industrial partners, a growing innovation ecosystem and a government committed to facilitating your investments and long-term success. Me and my team are ready to support you at every step."
