Türkiye is home to one of the youngest, most dynamic, and digitally connected populations in Europe. Walk into any classroom, university campus, or cafe, and you will see young people integrating Artificial Intelligence into their daily lives, using it to brainstorm projects and build new outputs.
But a critical shift is happening right now. Turkish youth are actively trying to transition from being passive consumers of technology into creators, innovators, and future leaders of the AI landscape.
The Role of Public Organizations in AI Governance
This transition is not happening in a vacuum; it is supported by a massive, synchronized effort from Turkish public organizations to build a robust ecosystem for young innovators.
Türkiye’s National AI Strategy explicitly outlines goals to train AI experts, support youth entrepreneurship, and foster a “Digital Youth Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem.” Institutions like TÜBİTAK, the Ministry of National Education, and the Ministry of Industry and Technology are driving this transformation through extensive outreach.
A prime example is the GENÇ 2030 (YOUTH 2030) project, launched by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Operating across all 81 provinces, the initiative’s “Digital Competencies and Artificial Intelligence Workshops” specifically target youth aged 15-25. The core philosophy of GENÇ 2030 aligns perfectly with our mission: to teach young people how to use AI ethically and productively, developing their algorithmic thinking so they transition from being mere consumers to the producers and directors of the future.
But GENÇ 2030 is just one piece of a much larger puzzle:
- Deneyap Technology Centers: A collaborative effort between the T3 Foundation, TÜBİTAK, and government ministries, these workshops offer multi-year, hands-on training in AI, robotics, and coding for gifted students nationwide.
- BTK Academy & 1 Million Employment Project: Providing massive, free, online and offline tech education to skill up the younger generation in software development and data science.
The TEKNOFEST Generation: Building the Future
The ultimate manifestation of this nationwide tech push is TEKNOFEST (teknofest.org/en). If you want to see the agency of Turkish youth in action, look no further.
As the world’s largest aviation, space, and technology festival, it has become a cultural phenomenon. Millions of young minds, from primary school students to university graduates, flock to these events to compete in advanced categories like artificial intelligence, robotics, and biotechnology. Just last year, over 565,000 teams and 1.1 million competitors from 96 countries applied to the technology competitions.
This is not just a science fair; it is a massive ecosystem of innovation. Young developers are building AI systems that diagnose plant diseases, optimize travel logistics, and digitize cultural heritage. TEKNOFEST proves that when Turkish youth are given the tools, the platforms, and the encouragement, their capacity to innovate is limitless.
Partner Spotlight: Genç STEM’s Award-Winning Impact
We do not have to look far to see this powerful combination of technical innovation and leadership in action. Within the YouthGovAI consortium itself, our partner, the Genç STEM Association (Genç STEM Eğitim ve Araştırma Derneği), is a prime example of Turkish excellence on the national stage.
Through dedicated mentorship and hands-on training in Şanlıurfa and beyond, Genç STEM has consistently led youth teams to remarkable successes at TEKNOFEST in recent years:
- First Place in Smart Transportation (2024): The team won the national championship and the Best Presentation Award with their AI-assisted “Smart Helmet” (Akıllı Kask) project. This renewable-energy-powered design is equipped with image processing, crash detection, and GPS to save the lives of motorcycle and bicycle riders.
- Second Place in AI Short Film (2025): Continuing their momentum, they secured second place in the Yapay Zeka Kısa Film Yarışması (AI Short Film Competition) with a project merging historical heritage with high-tech AI generation.
Genç STEM proves that when you empower youth with technical skills and a mission to solve real-world problems, they do not just participate—they lead and win.
The Path Forward: A Shared European Vision
Artificial intelligence is not a distant future for Türkiye or Europe; it is our shared immediate present. The ethical challenges and societal impacts of AI do not stop at national borders, and neither should our solutions.
By combining the incredible technical groundwork laid by public organizations in Türkiye with the collaborative spirit of our EU partners, we believe in building a united, cross-border approach to AI governance. Through the award-winning mentorship of local partners like Genç STEM and the pan-European framework of the Erasmus+, YouthGovAI is connecting the dynamic energy of Türkiye’s youth with their peers in Germany, Greece, Poland, and Italy. Together, this partnership will ensure that the technologies of tomorrow are safe, ethical, and democratic, empowering a generation to shape an inclusive AI landscape not just for Türkiye, but for all of Europe.
