Turkey Pours Billions of Dollars into the Global AI Race

🇹🇷 Turkey is moving rapidly to secure its place in the global artificial intelligence (AI) race, through an ambitious investment plan that combines government funding with private-sector capital, alongside new digital infrastructure and a national platform to support technological innovation.

Massive Investment in Infrastructure

The Turkish government has allocated $3 billion to support data centers and AI projects in 2026, while also seeking to attract $10 billion in private-sector financing to boost innovation in the field. These efforts aim to build one gigawatt of data center capacity by 2030, reflecting Ankara's determination to keep pace with the growing demand for the computing power needed to run AI applications.

A National Platform and New Legislation

In 2026, the Turkish government launched the "National Platform for Artificial Intelligence and Technical Education," aimed at supporting scientific research, developing digital skills, and encouraging tech startups. The platform includes a digital training center offering advanced AI courses, as well as business incubators to support small and medium-sized companies in the tech sector.

Turkish authorities say they are seeking to prevent the digital divide between developed and developing countries in AI from widening, by encouraging local companies to invest in the sector within clearly defined regulatory frameworks.

Market Growth and Startups

Turkey's information and communications technology market is estimated at around $38 billion in 2026, with projections that it will rise to $58 billion by 2031. Meanwhile, Turkey's startup sector raised $559 million in the first quarter of 2026, more than seven times the amount raised in the same period the previous year.

Funding for Turkish AI companies rose by 55.56% in 2026 compared to 2025.

Turkey is currently home to 159 companies operating in the field of artificial intelligence, including 32 funded firms that together have raised about $42.9 million in venture capital. In this context, Istanbul is hosting the first edition of "GITEX AI Türkiye 2026" on September 9 and 10 at Istanbul Expo Center, an event seen as a major showcase for the country's technological ambitions.