Ankara: A strategic memorandum of understanding was signed for the establishment of Trkiye's first hyperscale cloud region, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday. Speaking at the 2025 awards ceremony of the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council (TUBITAK) and Academy of Sciences (TUBA) in Ankara, Erdogan stated that the project, planned to become operational between 2028 and 2029, aims to create a digital bridge connecting Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. This development is expected to position Trkiye as a significant data hub in the region.
According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan emphasized the importance of keeping pace with scientific advancements and incorporating them into Trkiye's national identity. He highlighted initiatives in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, data storage, processing centers, and unmanned technologies as areas where Trkiye is making significant strides, admired by many countries globally.
Erdogan asserted that this initiative propels Trkiye towards joining the league of top global players in science and technology, despite facing obstacles and criticism from opposition parties. He addressed objections to recent missile tests in Sinop, assuring continued scientific advancement. The government's support for science spans from research and development to implementation, with over 36,000 projects receiving 153 billion Turkish liras ($5.3 billion) in support over the last 23 years under academic programs alone. Additionally, 415,119 researchers have received support amounting to 46.5 billion liras ($1.6 billion), while 28,493 private sector projects have been funded with 134 billion liras ($4.6 billion).
Since 2007, 53,394 projects aimed at promoting scientific culture across the nation have received 8.22 billion liras ($286 million). Erdogan congratulated academics for their contributions across various disciplines, emphasizing that award recipients hail from universities nationwide, showcasing the innovative contributions to Trkiye's scientific capacity. He highlighted efforts under the National Space Program and international researcher schemes, noting support for young people through scholarships, workshops, and internships.
Erdogan cited TEKNOFEST as an example of youth mobilization around science, with millions participating in its 13th edition in September. He reported the increase in technoparks from 2 to 113, R and D centers from zero to 360, and the number of provinces with technoparks from 2 to 64. The expansion of public library space from 325,000 square meters (3.5 million square feet) to 800,000 square meters (8.6 million square feet) over seven years was also noted, with a goal of reaching 1 million square meters (10.8 million square feet) and 200,000 seats by 2026.
Erdogan highlighted the Presidential National Library's collection of 141.7 million sources and 300 million electronic resources, ranking it as the third-largest library in the world. He emphasized Trkiye's progress in formerly import-dependent sectors like defense and praised scientists such as Aziz Sancar, Fuat Sezgin, Gazi Yasargil, Cahit Arf, and Halil Inalcik as role models.
Concluding his speech, Erdogan encouraged researchers to remain passionate and persistent, emphasizing confidence inherited from history over any inferiority toward the West. At the end of the ceremony, Erdogan received various gifts, including the first Turkish Antarctica maritime map, and presented awards to the honored scientists.