Turkey plans to introduce a package of investment mechanisms and infrastructure to support artificial intelligence during 2026–2030, as part of the “Turkish Artificial Intelligence Action Plan.” The plan includes establishing “artificial intelligence growth zones” and “artificial intelligence factories,” in addition to a financing mechanism extending from basic research to the expansion of startups.
According to information reported by Anadolu Agency citing its sources, Turkey’s Ministry of Industry and Technology is coordinating the implementation of the plans, drawing on the public budget, private-sector investments, international funds, incentives, and public-private partnerships. The government aims to create economic value exceeding 1 trillion lira.
Shared Infrastructure for Companies and Researchers
The proposed growth zones will include data centers and investments in artificial intelligence, with pre-equipped power, land, and telecommunications infrastructure. These zones are also expected to provide faster procedures for obtaining permits and licenses, as well as high-capacity fiber-optic connections with backup capabilities.
As for the “artificial intelligence factories,” they will combine large-scale computing capabilities, data zones, model-development tools, testing environments, technical support, and services for turning projects into products. According to the plan, they will operate using low-carbon energy. Major investors and operators are expected to allocate capacity to small and medium-sized enterprises, startups, and researchers, while also providing guidance and contributing to the local ecosystem.
Turkey aims to announce the first growth zone within one year, select the major investors, and operate the first phase of at least one zone by the end of 2027. By the end of 2028, it plans to announce at least five zones, operate three of them, and open three regional centers of excellence and six access points, while reaching a utilization rate of 70% of operating capacity.
A Financing Ladder from Research to Expansion
The plan includes creating an “artificial intelligence financing ladder” consisting of two funds. The “National Artificial Intelligence Research Fund” will allocate at least 10 billion lira to basic and applied research and early-stage projects, with the aim of moving at least 40% of supported projects to the prototype or pilot stage.
Turkish companies that demonstrate product-market fit or mature through the research fund will receive support from the “Artificial Intelligence Growth Fund,” which has a size of 15 billion lira. The fund aims to help finance at least 20 startups and stimulate at least two lira in private investment for every unit of public money.
The fund will operate through three tracks: co-investment by the government and private investors on equal terms; channeling resources to domestic and foreign venture-capital funds; and providing debt and guarantee support. The Ministry of Industry and Technology will have primary responsibility, in cooperation with the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, the Presidency of Strategy and Budget, TÜBİTAK, and the Turkish Wealth Fund.
What Will Change Practically for Small Companies?
The plan aims to allocate 1,000 artificial intelligence vouchers during the first 12 months to help small and medium-sized enterprises and startups turn ideas into products. It aims to move at least half of the supported projects to field trials and turn at least one-third of those trials into permanent products or services.
The plan also sets operational targets for the trials, including achieving an average increase of at least 10% in productivity or quality, moving from the trial to the pilot project within no more than four months, and from the pilot project to the product within no more than six months.
Impact and Open Constraints
The initiative is significant because it does not focus solely on financing models, but connects computing, data, testing, and marketing within a single structure that smaller companies can benefit from. Turkey also aims to stimulate at least $10 billion in private investment in artificial intelligence and data centers by 2030, and to reach a combined capacity of at least one gigawatt.
However, the figures provided are implementation targets, not results achieved so far. The article does not explain the mechanisms for selecting projects, the conditions for the vouchers, the allocation of capacity, or access prices, nor does it provide details of the actual financing schedule. Therefore, the plan’s practical value will depend on turning these targets into capacity available to companies and researchers, rather than on announcing the zones and funds alone.