The graduation ceremony for the "Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace" program, launched in collaboration between the Istanbul Development Agency and the Esenler Municipality, was held at the YTÜ Davutpaşa Campus with the participation of Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır. 

Speaking at the ceremony, where 1,600 young people received certificates, Minister Kacır stated, "By providing approximately $3 billion in public funding for data center and artificial intelligence investments, we will mobilize $10 billion in private sector investment."

The "Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace" program, which aims to cultivate qualified human resources in line with Turkey’s digital transformation vision, concluded with a comprehensive ceremony held at the YTÜ Davutpaşa Campus Congress and Culture Center. The 1,600 participants who successfully completed the 12-week training program, carried out in partnership between Esenler Municipality and the Istanbul Development Agency (İSTKA), received their graduation certificates at the event.

 “There are 13,000 technology startups across 114 technology parks”

Attending the graduation ceremony of the “Artificial Intelligence in Business” program, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır stated that Turkey has launched its National Technology Initiative, emphasizing that they embrace a philosophy that values the worth of hard work and intellectual effort, and will continue to remove obstacles. Noting that there are currently 114 technology parks in Turkey, Kacır said, “There are over 13,000 technology startups in these 114 technology parks. Today, there are over 1,700 R&D and design centers in Turkey. The volume of R&D activities has increased from 1.2 billion dollars to 19.9 billion dollars,” he said.

Pointing out that the majority of innovations emerge through companies founded by young people, Kacır said, "Young people in their 20s and 30s are founding technology startups, and those startups are achieving what much larger, more established, and more corporate companies have failed to accomplish—and they are changing the world."

"We will train 100,000 AI application professionals"

Noting that the primary goal is for AI to benefit society and the country, Kacır said they will embark on a full-throttle journey in the coming period, offering AI training through AI literacy workshops to be launched in all 81 provinces for 5 million citizens within the first two years.Minister Kacır stated that they will train 100,000 AI application professionals, adding:

"We are fully aware of the immense value of data in this process. We will make public data and big data available to Turkey’s AI developers. We have set the goal of providing at least 2,000 public datasets to our AI developers so they can create domestic and national solutions."

Minister Kacır added, “By allocating approximately $3 billion in public funds to data center and AI investments, we will mobilize $10 billion in private sector investment. At the same time, we will allocate at least 2% of total expenditures within the public sector’s own investment program to AI projects. In this way, we will generate over 1 trillion lira in value for the national economy,” he stated.

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it”

Referring to the academic and practical leadership role of universities in technological transformation, YTÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik explained that fully independent growth can be built on the foundations of education, technology, and development.

“The pace of global transformation is dizzying, and we must carry out the necessary work without delay to keep up with this pace,” Rector Debik noted, emphasizing that universities, industry, and government institutions share a common responsibility.

Debik said, “The best way to predict the future is to invent it. As universities and technology parks—the heart of science and technology—we must roll up our sleeves and work together with our government institutions and entrepreneurs.”

"We are mobilizing to build the future of every child in Turkey"

Esenler Mayor Mehmet Tevfik Göksu, explaining the importance local governments place on technology education, noted that they have established a special artificial intelligence training center within the municipality for this purpose. "As a state and as a nation, we have always valued our hard work, our strength, and the importance of unity and solidarity," said Göksu, emphasizing that this culture of solidarity must be combined with the potential of our youth. Göksu said, “Together, with the love and excitement of being one Turkey, we are ready to mobilize to build the future of every single child.”

"Artificial intelligence marks a seismic turning point in human history"

Noting that physical infrastructure alone is insufficient and that investment is needed in qualified human resources capable of processing data and transforming technology, İSTKA Secretary General Ziya Taşkent highlighted the historical significance of the process.

Taşkent said, “Just as the invention of the steam engine triggered the Industrial Revolution, and the internet redefined networks, artificial intelligence represents a transformation and a turning point of equal magnitude in human history," said Taşkent, emphasizing that a workforce at peace with technology will create a competitive advantage.

Taşkent added, “The importance of a dynamic workforce that competes by effectively utilizing artificial intelligence rather than competing against it is immense; the project we are concluding today is a significant step taken precisely in this direction.”

The program concluded with the presentation of certificates and a group photo.