As the world’s largest technology and AI event network brings Eurasia’s rapidly growing AI economy into the global spotlight, the inaugural GITEX Ai Türkiye 2026 will bring together the global technology ecosystem at Istanbul Expo Center on September 9–10.
Türkiye’s Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) market, valued at US$38 billion in 2026 and projected to reach US$58 billion by 2031, is positioning the country at the center of Eurasia’s emerging digital economy. Driven by billions of dollars in technology investments and ambitious plans to develop AI talent, this growth is positioning Türkiye as a next-generation cross-border corridor for artificial intelligence and digital innovation.
As Türkiye accelerates its digital transformation roadmap, the country is allocating US$3 billion this year toward data center and AI investments, while aiming to mobilize US$10 billion in private-sector resources to support AI innovation and establish 1 gigawatt of data center capacity by 2030.
This large-scale AI and digital ecosystem ambition is also being supported by a comprehensive talent development program. In June 2026, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced plans under Türkiye’s National Artificial Intelligence Action Plan to train 10,000 advanced AI specialists and 100,000 AI application professionals.
Türkiye’s startup ecosystem also attracted US$559 million in investment during the first quarter of 2026, more than seven times the amount recorded during the same period last year. Supported by one of Europe’s most dynamic innovation cultures and a rapidly developing technology infrastructure, the ecosystem is home to more than 13,000 startups across 114 technoparks, while more than 1,700 R&D and design centers operate across the country.
GITEX Ai Türkiye Accelerates Eurasia’s Rising AI Momentum
Türkiye’s strategic position as a bridge between Europe and Asia is accelerating its emergence as Eurasia’s gateway to the global AI economy. This momentum will reach a new level with the inaugural GITEX Ai Türkiye 2026, Türkiye’s largest AI and technology event with extensive international participation. The event will take place at Istanbul Expo Center on September 9–10, 2026.
The two-day event will bring together more than 300 corporations and startups, along with investors, public-sector decision-makers, expert speakers, and thousands of technology executives from around the world. GITEX Ai Türkiye 2026 will help shape the future of Türkiye’s AI economy by enabling cross-border partnerships, advanced manufacturing collaborations, capital flows, and talent and knowledge exchange.
Powered by the World’s Largest Technology and AI Event Network
GITEX Ai Türkiye is hosted by the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye (Invest in Türkiye) and held in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye. The inaugural event is being launched with the power of GITEX, the world’s largest technology, AI, and investment event network, and is organized by informa, the joint venture between Dubai World Trade Centre and Informa that organizes GITEX events globally.
A. Burak Dağlıoğlu, President of the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency, said:
“In addition to our US$3 billion investment commitment toward data center and AI infrastructure, the US$10 billion in resources mobilized from the private sector demonstrates that investors view Türkiye as a strong investment hub. Our young talent pool with strong digital capabilities and our rapidly growing entrepreneurship ecosystem offer a compelling value proposition in their own right. GITEX Ai Türkiye is taking this momentum to the global stage, and we are proud to be part of bringing this organization to Istanbul.”
Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of GITEX,
said:
“Türkiye is a bridge between East and West, where cultures, ideas, and opportunities thrive. By bringing the world’s largest and most connected network of AI and technology investors to Türkiye, we are transforming the country into a next-generation cross-border corridor for AI and digital excellence. GITEX Ai Türkiye will lead the way toward a future in which Türkiye and Eurasia become powerful forces in shaping the world’s AI future.”
International Participants from Five Continents Choose Istanbul
GITEX Ai Türkiye focuses on the sectors shaping the digital agenda of Southeast Europe and West Asia, including artificial intelligence, 5G and telecommunications, cloud technologies and connectivity, cybersecurity and dual-use technologies, data centers, e-commerce, fintech, gaming, green technologies, healthtech, mobility, quantum computing, and smart manufacturing.
Türkiye and Eurasia’s growing importance in the global AI economy is further reinforced by companies participating from different regions of the world. GITEX Ai Türkiye 2026 will welcome participants from Colombia and Peru in South America; Nigeria and Tunisia in Africa; the United Arab Emirates and Jordan in the Middle East; Poland and Portugal in Europe; and Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Singapore in Asia.
Confirmed participants include global technology giants shaping the AI economy, such as Google Cloud, HPE & NVIDIA, ASUS, Dell Technologies, SAP, and TrendAI, alongside regional powerhouses including Türkiye’s US$16.5 billion e-commerce giant Trendyol and Andevos, one of the country’s leading AI and fintech platforms. Halkbank, one of Türkiye’s leading publicly owned institutions serving the SME banking sector, is also supporting Türkiye’s technology-driven growth as a Platinum Sponsor.
Google Cloud, HPE & NVIDIA Power Production-Ready AI Solutions for Türkiye and the Region
Google’s participation as the event’s Cloud Headline Partner follows the company’s announcement in 2025 of a US$2 billion, 10-year investment plan to establish a new Google Cloud region in Türkiye in collaboration with Turkcell. Turkcell is one of Türkiye’s leading 5G operators, serving 46 million subscribers.
Alp Önder Güler, Country Manager of Google Cloud Türkiye, said:
“Our participation in GITEX Ai Türkiye 2026 is an important demonstration of Google Cloud’s long-term commitment to Türkiye. This commitment is further strengthened by our plans to establish a new Google Cloud region in Türkiye. By bringing our most advanced cloud and AI technologies to the country, we are focused on enabling organizations to thrive in the era of agentic AI.”
HPE, the US$61 billion enterprise infrastructure company, and NVIDIA, the world’s most valuable AI chip manufacturer, will participate as Gold Sponsors. The two companies will combine enterprise infrastructure with accelerated computing technologies to deliver production-ready AI solutions to organizations across Türkiye and the region.
In addition, fixcloud, Odoo, Sangfor, Redington, and Forcepoint will contribute to the event across areas including cloud technologies, enterprise resource planning, cybersecurity, value-added distribution, and network security.
Yasemin Doğrul, General Manager of HPE Türkiye, said:
“We are proud to demonstrate at GITEX Ai Türkiye how HPE and NVIDIA are leading the transformation of moving AI from the discovery stage into production. Our joint efforts enable organizations to build secure and scalable AI factories that seamlessly bring together infrastructure and accelerated computing technologies.”
Türkiye’s Innovation Ecosystem Powers the Next Generation of AI Champions
The entrepreneurial energy driving Türkiye’s technology growth is most clearly reflected in the country’s startup ecosystem. GITEX Ai Türkiye 2026 will connect more than 100 investors from 20 countries managing a combined US$50 billion in assets with startups emerging from Türkiye’s technoparks, helping next-generation AI companies developed in Türkiye and scaling globally unlock new opportunities.
Leading innovation centers and technoparks participating in the event include UMV and İTÜ ARI Teknokent, Tech Talk Partners, along with Teknopark Ankara, Antalya Teknokent, Giresun Teknopark, Medeniyet Teknopark, and YTÜ Yıldız Teknopark.
With numerous additional innovation centers and technoparks participating, the event will create a powerful platform where startups, investors, corporations, and innovators can connect, collaborate, and grow.
Dr. Muhammet Anıl Kaya, General Manager of Giresun Teknopark, said:
“Regional technology parks are the lifeblood of Türkiye’s innovation ecosystem. By ensuring that R&D and digital transformation are not limited to major cities, they are making technology accessible to everyone. As Giresun Teknopark, we serve as an accelerator that transforms local talent and potential into global value. GITEX Ai Türkiye enables our startups to scale their digital services globally while providing direct access to international markets, investors, and strategic business partners.”
For more information about GITEX Ai Türkiye:
GITEX Ai Türkiye Official Website
