Hosted by Terminal Istanbul at GO Bilişim Vadisi Istanbul, the “Terminal Istanbul x SSCI Innovation and Investment Forum” brought together entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, and technology ecosystem representatives from different countries. Attending the forum, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır emphasized that Türkiye has gained significant momentum in technology entrepreneurship, R&D, and innovation in recent years, positioning itself strongly in the global technology race.
In his speech, Minister Kacır stated that Türkiye’s entrepreneurship ecosystem has grown remarkably over the past 23 years, saying, “Together with our technoparks, R&D and Design Centers, venture capital funds, angel investors, and entrepreneurs, we have built a strong entrepreneurship ecosystem that contributes significantly to Türkiye’s growth journey.”
Highlighting that Türkiye’s exports have now reached 276 billion dollars, Kacır noted that 95 percent of these exports consist of industrial products. He underlined that Türkiye has become a powerful regional production and export hub in sectors such as automotive, chemicals, and machinery, with the annual added value of Turkish industry approaching 250 billion dollars.
Drawing attention to the growth in R&D and innovation investments, Minister Kacır stated that the number of R&D personnel in Türkiye increased from 29 thousand to 310 thousand over the last 23 years, while annual R&D expenditures rose from 1.2 billion dollars to 20 billion dollars. He added that the share of national income allocated to R&D has approached 1.5 percent, bringing Türkiye to a level comparable with leading industrial countries in Europe.
Minister Kacır also stated that nearly 13 thousand technology startups are currently operating in 114 technoparks across Türkiye. He emphasized that investments in technology startups have grown exponentially, reaching 5.5 billion dollars over the last five years. According to Kacır, Türkiye has now become a country capable of producing billion-dollar technology startups.
“Türkiye currently has 8 Turcorns,” said Kacır, noting that Turkish technology startups continue to grow globally through international expansions and acquisitions. He emphasized that young entrepreneurs are the driving force behind these success stories and that Türkiye’s young and dynamic population represents a major advantage for technology entrepreneurship.
Announcing new support mechanisms to strengthen venture capital funds, Minister Kacır revealed that an additional 300 million dollars of public funding would be allocated to venture capital funds investing in technology startups. He stated that this initiative is expected to generate at least 750 million dollars of additional investment into Türkiye’s technology ecosystem.
Kacır also highlighted Türkiye’s next-generation regulatory initiatives, explaining that the “Digital Company” definition will soon be integrated into the legal framework, allowing startups from anywhere in the world to establish companies in Türkiye quickly and digitally.
Additionally, Minister Kacır stated that the terminal buildings of the former Atatürk Airport are being transformed into one of the world’s largest entrepreneurship centers under the “Terminal Istanbul” brand.
“Thousands of startups will be able to operate simultaneously at Terminal Istanbul. Entrepreneurs will have access to accelerator programs, investors, and a comprehensive ecosystem designed to meet all their needs,” he said.
Emphasizing the importance of youth in the growth of the entrepreneurship ecosystem, Kacır noted that TEKNOFEST has become the world’s largest technology festival, encouraging millions of young people every year to turn their dreams into R&D projects and startups.
Concluding his speech by sharing Türkiye’s 2030 vision, Minister Kacır stated: “Our goal is to enable 100 thousand technology startups to emerge from these lands by 2030 and to help the total value of Turcorns reach 100 billion dollars.”
The meetings, collaborations, and networking opportunities established during the Terminal Istanbul x SSCI Innovation and Investment Forum are expected to make significant contributions to Türkiye’s entrepreneurship and technology ecosystem.
