Haliç University has earned the right to establish Türkiye's first specialized Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology Development Center (TEKMER), marking a historic step in shaping Türkiye's AI ecosystem. As part of the Ministry of Industry and Technology's KOSGEB TEKMER program, Haliç AI TEKMER will contribute significantly to the country's AI development, empowering the entrepreneurial ecosystem and enhancing Türkiye's global competitiveness in the fields of innovation and technology.
Haliç AI TEKMER aims to establish at least 20 AI startups within five years and to help at least one of these startups achieve a billion-dollar valuation, earning "Turcorn" status. The center will promote AI entrepreneurship by supporting innovative projects and will enhance Türkiye's global power in this field.
More than just a typical entrepreneurial center, Haliç AI TEKMER will also directly contribute to regional development. With the university's strong academic and technical infrastructure, the center will nurture AI-specialized entrepreneurs while accelerating projects by offering access to R&D incentives.
In alignment with Türkiye's National AI Strategy, published in 2021, Haliç AI TEKMER will contribute to the country's goal of ranking among the top 20 nations in the AI Readiness Index. The center will conduct strategic efforts to strengthen data infrastructure, increase investment access, and improve entrepreneurship support mechanisms in the AI field.
The center will foster a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem, creating an environment where entrepreneurs can learn from one another. In this context, monthly entrepreneur-sharing meetings, quarterly joint events with different entrepreneurial ecosystems, biannual expert seminars, AI competitions with awards, mentoring programs, and financial literacy training sessions will be organized.
Moreover, strong connections with investors will be established to support entrepreneurs in expanding into global markets.
Led by Haliç University, Haliç AI TEKMER is poised to enhance Türkiye's competitiveness in artificial intelligence and prepare the technology leaders of the future!