The Summit on the Industrialization of Software in the Second Century of the Republic of Turkey, organized by the Ankara Chamber of Industry and hosted by BTK, was held in Ankara with intensive participation from sector representatives. Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, and Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu, President of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, attended the program.
Speaking at the program, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan emphasized that software is rapidly industrializing on a global scale and that Türkiye is determined to achieve a strong position in this transformation.
Noting that software has become an invisible but indispensable part of daily life, Sayan said, “From alarms to banking systems, from traffic to the devices in our homes, software is everywhere in life. Today, software equals everything.”
Underlining that domestic software production is critical for Türkiye's digital independence, Sayan highlighted the importance of national technology policies developed under the vision of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with the words: “This is not just a technological choice, but also a matter of independence. Developing domestic technologies has become a necessity in terms of strategic security and global competitiveness.” In this context, he stated that the Ministry is continuously carrying out preparations for 5G/6G, national digital solutions, cybersecurity investments, and projects that facilitate young people's access to technology.
Stating that software development processes have now become a large industry that is standardized and accelerated by automation, Sayan said that this transformation has made production faster, more secure, and more economical.
Drawing attention to the fact that global software spending will reach 679 billion dollars by 2027, Sayan said, “This sector now plays a key role in the economic growth of countries. Strengthening Türkiye's domestic and national software ecosystem is a necessity in terms of both strategic security and economic sustainability.”
Also emphasizing the strategic importance of human resources, Sayan noted that encouraging young people in the software field and further integrating educational institutions with the sector are among the priorities. Sayan said, “As long as we take the right steps, the software industry will be one of Türkiye's new engines of development.
Expressing his belief that the summit will bring new collaborations and strong strategic goals to Türkiye, Sayan thanked all participants.
President Karagözoğlu: Being Domestic and National in Software is a Strategic Security Issue
Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu, President of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, who spoke at the program, stated that software has become a fundamental production factor in every field from manufacturing to logistics, from defense to agriculture.
Stating that being domestic and national in software is a strategic security issue, Karagözoğlu said, “As BTK, with our USOM and SOME structures, with domestic solutions protecting critical infrastructures, together with our operators and stakeholders, we are on duty 24/7. Moreover, in this process, we use our domestic software such as AVCI, AZAD, KASIRGA, ATMACA, and KULE. This is one of the points we are most proud of.”
Stating that they support young people in areas such as software, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity through BTK Academy, Karagözoğlu said, “With workshops, certificate programs, competitions, hackathons, and datathons, we are trying to turn software culture into not a hobby, but a profession and a vision for the future. Today, with over 2 million 750 thousand users, BTK Academy has become a hub of knowledge. Thus, BTK Academy creates a strong platform for our young people to prepare for the digital world. Our young people receive training here in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science, and software,” and concluded his speech.