"AI Factories" Will Elevate SMEs and Entrepreneurs
According to information obtained by an AA correspondent, within the scope of the "Turkey Artificial Intelligence Action Plan" for the period 2026-2030, special investment plans in the field of artificial intelligence are being implemented under the coordination of the Ministry of Industry and Technology.
To achieve the goal of creating an economic value exceeding 1 trillion Turkish Lira by mobilizing public resources and private sector investments in line with common goals, public budget, private sector investments, international funds, incentive mechanisms, and public-private partnerships will be used.
First AI Growth Zone to be Declared Within a Year
To accelerate large-scale data center and artificial intelligence investments, the process of creating "AI growth zones" with pre-prepared energy, land, and telecommunication infrastructure has begun.
These special status zones, which will have redundant high-capacity fiber connections with accelerated permit and licensing processes, will house "AI factories" that multiple companies can utilize simultaneously.
Factories powered by low-carbon electricity will combine large-scale computing capacity with data fields, model development tools, testing environments, technical support, and product development services. Key or leading investors and operators (anchors) will be expected to allocate capacity, provide mentorship, and contribute to the local ecosystem for SMEs, startups, and researchers.
The goal is to announce the first growth zone and select anchor investors within a one-year period, with at least one zone operational with its first phase capacity by the end of 2027.
By the end of 2028, it is projected that at least 5 growth zones will be announced, at least 3 of which will be operational, and at least 3 regional centers of excellence and 6 access points will be opened. A 70% utilization rate is aimed for in operational capacity.
Thus, it is envisioned that SMEs and entrepreneurs will be able to advance their skills through AI factories.
A Two-Fund "AI Financing Ladder" will be established
An "AI Financing Ladder" consisting of two funds will be created to support the process ranging from basic research to the scaling of startups.
The National AI Research Fund will support basic and applied research and early-stage projects. Through this fund, at least 10 billion Turkish Lira will be allocated to projects, and at least 40% of the supported projects will progress to the pilot application or prototype stage.
Domestic startups that mature through the research fund or prove product-market fit will be supported through the 15 billion Turkish Lira AI Growth Fund.
The fund will contribute to the investment of at least 20 AI startups. The goal is to mobilize at least two units of private capital for every unit of public resources used.
The fund will operate through three mechanisms: joint investment by public and private investors on equal terms, allocation of resources to domestic and foreign venture capital funds, and provision of borrowing and guarantee support to startups.
The financing mechanism will be implemented under the main responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, in cooperation with the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, the Strategy and Budget Presidency, TÜBİTAK, and the Turkey Wealth Fund.
1000 AI vouchers for small businesses
At least 1000 AI vouchers will be allocated to SMEs and startups in the first 12 months to help them transform their ideas into products. At least half of the supported projects will be moved to pilot applications in the field, and at least one-third of these will be transformed into permanent products or services.
The goal is to achieve an average increase in efficiency or quality of at least 10 percent in pilots, with a maximum transition period from trial to pilot and a maximum product transformation period from pilot to product in 6 months.
It is planned to mobilize at least $10 billion in private sector-led investments in the field of artificial intelligence and data centers by 2030 and to reach at least 1 gigawatt of installed capacity. The data center and artificial intelligence calls within the scope of the HIT-30 High Technology Investment Program will form the backbone of these investments.
A single window will be established for international investors to complete the preliminary eligibility assessment and investment roadmap within a maximum of 30 business days.
Within the scope of exporting sectoral artificial intelligence models, the goal is to achieve at least 10 licensing or co-development agreements, active partnerships in 3 priority markets, at least 25 corporate deployments abroad, and at least 100 million Turkish Lira in model export revenue by the end of 2028.
