The New Direction of Innovation: High Technology and Exports
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the second day of Türkiye Innovation Week 2026, organized by the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM) with the support of the Ministry of Trade. Held under the theme “Humanity 6.0 – The New Era of Humanity,” the event delivered key messages on the future of technology, innovation, high-value-added production and exports.
The second-day program of Türkiye Innovation Week 2026 took place at the Haliç Congress Center with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The event brought together Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Trade Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat, TİM President Mustafa Gültepe, representatives of public institutions and the business community, and stakeholders from the technology and innovation ecosystem.
Addressing the event, President Erdoğan described this year's theme, “Humanity 6.0 – The New Era of Humanity,” as particularly meaningful, emphasizing that the technological transformation spanning artificial intelligence, robotics and biotechnology must be approached without losing sight of its human-centered foundations.
“We have built a tremendous R&D and innovation infrastructure”
Emphasizing Türkiye's determination not to fall behind in the global technological race, President Erdoğan stated that the country's research, development and innovation infrastructure had been substantially strengthened under the National Technology Initiative.
Noting that the number of technoparks in Türkiye had reached 115 and R&D expenditures had risen to $20 billion, Erdoğan highlighted the continued support provided to foster the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Erdoğan stated that Türkiye aims to establish 100,000 technology startups by 2030, with their combined valuation reaching $100 billion.
Addressing targets for artificial intelligence and data infrastructure, Erdoğan announced plans to mobilize at least $10 billion in private sector-led investment in data centers, cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
“We must accelerate the transition to high-value-added production”
Underscoring the strategic importance of technology investments for Türkiye's economy and digital sovereignty, President Erdoğan stated that the achievements of the defense industry clearly demonstrate the contribution of high-tech manufacturing to export performance.
Erdoğan remarked, “For Türkiye, investing in advanced technology is not merely a choice but an imperative. We must also accelerate the transition to high-value-added production. Naturally, throughout this process, we will not neglect the sectors in which we have traditionally been strong, and we will continue to support them.”
Expressing his gratitude to business leaders who have contributed to Türkiye's development through their investments, production activities, employment generation, exports and R&D initiatives, Erdoğan extended his best wishes for Türkiye Innovation Week 2026 to bring positive outcomes for the country and its business community.
“Innovation lies at the heart of competition wherever there is production”
Speaking at the event, TİM President Mustafa Gültepe stated that President Erdoğan's interest in and support for Türkiye Innovation Week since its inception had been a significant source of motivation for the organization.
Referring to the İnovaLİG Awards Ceremony held on the same day, Gültepe emphasized that bringing companies from diverse industries, ranging from textiles and defense to steel and shipbuilding, onto the same stage demonstrated that innovation is not confined to particular sectors.
Gültepe said, “Wherever there is production, innovation lies at the heart of progress and competition. Our companies do not settle for a single achievement; they constantly pursue new ideas and strive to develop better solutions. They demonstrate to us that innovation is a powerful capability.”
“We have surpassed $282 billion in annualized merchandise exports”
Highlighting Türkiye's significant transformation across numerous fields, from entrepreneurship and design to branding and exports, Gültepe shared his assessment of the country's latest export performance.
Recalling that Türkiye had achieved record export figures in seven of the previous 12 months and recorded double-digit export growth in September, Gültepe stated that monthly exports had reached approximately $26 billion, marking the second-highest level on record.
Gültepe noted that the $282 billion merchandise export target set by President Erdoğan for 2026 had already been exceeded on an annualized basis as of September, while services exports had also surpassed $125 billion. Gültepe stated, “God willing, we will exceed $410 billion in total exports by the end of the year.”
“We envision a Türkiye whose ideas, designs and brands are entirely our own”
Emphasizing that Türkiye's achievements in production and exports extend far beyond numerical indicators, Gültepe described this progress as the story of a nation's transformation—one that has learned to produce, diversified its production capabilities and opened itself to the world through the products it creates.
Stating that Türkiye had attained world-class quality standards and become globally competitive in design, Gültepe emphasized that the next ambition is to shape the direction of the world through advanced technology.
Gültepe remarked, “Developing technology is undoubtedly a major achievement. However, true success lies in transforming that technology into a product sought after in global markets. Today, those who turn ideas into commercial value reap greater rewards. This is precisely our objective. We are pursuing a vision in which the ideas, designs, brands and innovations are all our own.”
“Ideas must become products, products must become brands, and brands must drive exports”
Emphasizing the need to connect knowledge generated at universities with industry, entrepreneurial ideas with capital, and manufacturers' capabilities with global markets, Gültepe described Türkiye Innovation Week as a vital platform for strengthening this approach.
Gültepe stated, “Innovation fulfills its purpose when ideas become products, products become brands, and brands translate into exports. This is precisely the vision we seek to advance through Türkiye Innovation Week.”
Highlighting that people remain at the center of this transformation, Gültepe noted that the theme “Humanity 6.0 – The New Era of Humanity” reflects this human-centered perspective.
Emphasizing that, regardless of how far technology advances, human knowledge, imagination and courage will ultimately determine its direction, Gültepe stated that the expertise and experience accumulated by Türkiye's more than 160,000 exporters in international markets constitute one of the country's most valuable assets in the emerging era.
“We need measures to safeguard our competitiveness”
Expressing confidence in Türkiye's production capacity, product quality and the accumulated expertise of its exporters, Gültepe underscored the importance of protecting the competitiveness of manufacturers and exporters throughout the transition toward high-value-added production.
Gültepe stated, “While generating higher added value, we must also remain competitive in global markets in terms of our costs. Because we envision a Türkiye that distinguishes itself through its products, competes effectively on costs, earns trust through its brands and becomes the preferred choice through its technology.”
During the event, Minister of Trade Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat and TİM President Mustafa Gültepe presented President Erdoğan with a calligraphic artwork titled “The Human Imprint,” featuring a Quranic verse intricately incorporated into the form of a fingerprint. The program concluded with a group photograph.