Information Valley

Information Valley is a disciplined and multi-stakeholder technology development zone aimed at enhancing Türkiye’s national competitiveness in high technology. With campuses in Kocaeli, Istanbul, Izmir, and Azerbaijan-Baku, it supports Türkiye’s domestic and national technology production, focusing on strategic areas such as mobility, information technology, artificial intelligence, gaming technology, cybersecurity, and defense industry.

The foundations of Information Valley were laid in 2011 under the name “Muallimköy Technology Development Zone.” Infrastructure investments began in 2015, and the official opening took place in 2019. Operating under an industry and technology ministry-supported technology park model, Information Valley embraces a multi-stakeholder governance approach based on collaboration between public institutions, the private sector, and universities.

Information Valley aims to commercialize research and development (R&D) and innovation processes, conducting focused initiatives in the following areas:

• Mobility: Electric and connected vehicles, autonomous driving systems, battery technologies.
• Artificial Intelligence and Big Data: Data analytics, machine learning, natural language processing, and predictive systems.
• Cybersecurity: Encryption, security software, and digital infrastructure protection.
• Gaming Technology: Digital game engines, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies.
• Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Design: Prototyping, production automation, and product design solutions.

Information Valley provides multi-layered support to the entrepreneurship ecosystem, covering the entire process from idea generation to commercialization.

• BİGG Program: Under TÜBİTAK 1512 support, early-stage technology startups receive grant funding of up to 450,000 TL.
• BİGG+ Program: An acceleration and growth program designed to assist funded startups in advancing to later stages of commercialization.

• Targeted at startups working on autonomous, electric, and connected vehicles.
• Offers multifaceted support including technical consulting, field testing, industry partnerships, and investor matchmaking events.

• Pre-Incubation: Focuses on idea and business model development; includes foundational entrepreneurship training, mentoring, and prototyping support.
• Incubation: Provides startups with office space, software licenses, investor access, and branding consultancy services.

• The Turkish branch of the France-based Ecole 42.
• Features a project-based software education system with no grades or traditional instructors.
• Aims to enhance the quality of Türkiye’s workforce in software development.

• Provides technical, financial, and promotional support to companies operating in digital gaming, animation, and VFX.
• Encourages collaboration and shared resource utilization among firms within the ecosystem.

• Established through a public-private partnership, this fund makes financial investments in startups with high growth potential.
• Through this fund, investors engage professionally in technology entrepreneurship, while startups gain opportunities for scaling up.

Companies operating within Information Valley include Türkiye’s leading industrial and technology firms, public institutions, and next-generation technology startups. Notable companies include:

• TOGG: Türkiye’s first domestic and national electric vehicle manufacturer.
• HAVELSAN: Defense industry software solutions.
• ASELSAN: Producer of electronic warfare and defense technologies.
• TÜRKSAT: Satellite technologies and digital infrastructure solutions.
• Turkcell, Türk Telekom, Vestel: Leading organizations in telecommunications and consumer electronics.
• STM: Cybersecurity and engineering solutions.
• Numerous next-generation technology startups including OBSS, Techxtend, Laska Energy, Navlungo, Coorbital, Tazi.ai, and TROAS.

To enhance Türkiye’s technology export capacity, Information Valley has opened a campus in Baku, Azerbaijan, aiming to establish regional technological leadership. This expansion seeks to increase the visibility and competitiveness of Turkish technology firms in global markets.

Information Valley organizes numerous events throughout the year to promote knowledge and experience sharing, including hackathons, technology summits, Startup Demo Days, R&D Days, and technical seminars. Additionally, through joint projects with universities and publicly funded R&D calls, the transfer of academic knowledge into practical innovation processes is actively encouraged.