Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır announced Uber’s new investment in Istanbul. The Uber technology center will be built with a $200 million investment and will create jobs for more than 500 technology professionals.

Uber technology center demonstrates confidence in Turkey

Minister Kacır attended the launch event held at the Esma Sultan Mansion in Istanbul. Kacır stated that the center will develop critical technologies for Uber’s global operations. He also said, “This investment is a clear demonstration of the confidence in Turkey’s capabilities, stability, and young human resources.”

Kacır emphasized that Uber sees Turkey not only as a market but also as an innovation hub. Noting that Turkey’s R&D infrastructure has strengthened over the past 23 years, the Minister said, “Our R&D human resources have increased from 29,000 to 311,000.”

Currently, 12,000 companies and more than 1,700 R&D centers operate in 113 technoparks. Minister Kacır stated that successes like the defense industry and Togg are a product of this ecosystem. He added that Togg works with more than 30 Turkish technology startups.

The Ministry supports the entrepreneurial spirit with events like TEKNOFEST. Kacır noted that last year, they received the second-highest seed-stage investment in Europe and announced their 2030 goal: 100,000 technology startups and a Turcorn value exceeding $100 billion.

To achieve this goal, Atatürk Airport is being transformed into a major entrepreneurship hub with the “Terminal Istanbul” project. Supports such as the “Turcorn 100 Program” and the “Turkey Tech Visa Program” are also being offered.

Minister Kacır noted that Turkey’s median age, at 34, is 10 years younger than Europe. This dynamic population and the R&D investments of more than 700 international companies make Turkey a center of attraction.

So, what are your thoughts on this new investment by Uber? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!