TÜBİTAK Launches 2026 AI Ecosystem Call to Commercialize Industrial AI
The Turkish research council targets five priority sectors to bridge the gap between AI development and commercial application.
The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) has opened applications for the 2026 cycle of its 1711 Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem call. The initiative accelerates the transition of AI technologies from theoretical research into viable commercial products tailored to specific industrial needs.
Under the 2026 call, TÜBİTAK seeks projects that transform AI capabilities into solutions based on the requirements of "customer organizations." Interested parties must complete pre-registration by September 14, 2026, at 17:30. The program emphasizes a collaborative model, encouraging partnerships between technology providers—including AI developers, university research centers, and the TÜBİTAK Artificial Intelligence Institute—and the organizations that will deploy the technology.
Strategic Priority Areas
The 1711 program focuses on five critical priority areas: Smart Manufacturing Systems; Smart Agriculture, Food and Livestock; Financial Technologies; Climate Change and Sustainability; and Smart Education Technologies. By narrowing the scope to these sectors, the council ensures that funded AI development addresses tangible bottlenecks in the Turkish economy.
Bridging the Industrial Gap
First launched in 2022, the 1711 call is a cornerstone of Türkiye's national strategy to activate its AI ecosystem. Historically, a significant gap has existed between academic AI breakthroughs and practical application in the private sector. The 1711 framework addresses this by mandating a demand-driven approach, ensuring that AI solutions are requested and validated by end-users in the industry rather than remaining mere technical exercises.
Implications for National Competitiveness
This shift toward industrial-scale implementation aims to boost national competitiveness by modernizing core sectors. By integrating AI into agriculture, finance, and manufacturing, the Turkish government intends to move the country up the value chain, shifting from a consumer of foreign AI tools to a producer of specialized, sector-specific AI intellectual property. The focus on sustainability and climate change further aligns the national AI strategy with global regulatory and environmental trends.
Next Steps for Applicants
Prospective applicants should establish formal collaborations with customer organizations before the September deadline. While the pre-registration window is the immediate hurdle, the long-term success of the 2026 cycle depends on the ability of developers to demonstrate a clear path to commercialization. Observers will monitor whether this cycle produces a higher volume of market-ready products compared to previous iterations of the 1711 call.