Hacettepe University Forges AI-Defense Links
Ankara's Hacettepe University is emerging as a strategic hub for artificial intelligence in Turkey. The university is fostering strong collaborations with the defense industry. These partnerships are aimed at boosting Turkey's technological sovereignty and developing a local talent pipeline for AI and defense tech.
- Hacettepe University hosts a major technology hub, Hacettepe Technopolis, which is home to 342 companies and over 5,400 employees; the defense industry is the third-largest sector represented, after software and communications. Two of the Technopolis's 12 R&D buildings are specifically allocated to defense and aviation companies, featuring secure facilities for projects with NATO and National Confidentiality requirements. - A key partnership exists with ASELSAN, a major Turkish defense corporation, which led to the establishment of the "ASELSAN – Artificial Intelligence (AI) Laboratory" at the university. This collaboration has expanded to include at least three specific R&D projects signed within the ASELABS Artificial Intelligence Technologies Laboratory, aimed at making defense systems "smarter and more effective." - To build a talent pipeline, Hacettepe University established Turkey's first undergraduate program in Artificial Intelligence Engineering. The program, taught in English, is designed to address the growing demand for AI specialists in both Turkish and global industries. - The university's commercialization arm, Hacettepe Technopolis Technology Transfer Center (HT-TTM), actively facilitates the transition of academic research into marketable products. Since its establishment, HT-TTM has managed over 1,600 contracted projects and generated more than 100 million Turkish Lira in knowledge-technology transfer services. - These initiatives align with Turkey’s broader national strategy to use AI for technological sovereignty and strategic autonomy, particularly in the defense sector. The government's 2026 Presidential Annual Program frames AI as a core component of state capacity and defense modernization, moving beyond simple integration to reshape industrial and defense planning. - The broader Turkish defense industry is increasingly integrating AI into its platforms. For example, Roketsan uses AI to enhance the precision of its missile systems, enabling them to identify and neutralize specific threats with greater accuracy. Meanwhile, defense firm Havelsan has successfully exported an AI-powered video analytics system called EYEMINER to a nation in Africa for a strategic road safety project.
