Major Step Taken for Artificial Intelligence

Important Step Taken for Artificial Intelligence Bursa Uludağ University (BUÜ) will conduct joint activities with the Office of Digital Transformation of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye in the fields of cybersecurity, big data, artificial intelligence, open source, intelligent autonomous systems, blockchain and artificial intelligence-based medical applications, covering R&D and technology development as well as human resources training. A cooperation protocol was implemented between the Office of Digital Transformation of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye and BUÜ to conduct joint activities and operations in the fields of cybersecurity, big data, artificial intelligence, open source, intelligent autonomous systems and artificial intelligence-based medical applications—areas in which Türkiye will need support during its digital transformation process—as well as to cooperate on education and training matters, covering R&D and technology development alongside human resources training.

"The profession of the future is artificial intelligence"

Speaking at the protocol signing ceremony, Dr. Ali Taha Koç, Head of the Office of Digital Transformation of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, said that as an institution they have strong faith in human capital. Pointing out that 15.4 percent of Türkiye's population is between 15 and 24 years old, Dr. Ali Taha Koç stated: "When we look at this proportion, we can see that we have a young population at a much higher rate than many European countries. The future lies in digital transformation, but it will be our young people who will shape that future. In this sense, we need to equip our youth with the skills of the professions of the future. If you ask what the professions of the future will be, it will undoubtedly and certainly be artificial intelligence."

50,000 jobs in artificial intelligence

Recalling that the previous year they published Türkiye's first artificial intelligence strategy for 2021-2025 together with the Ministry of Industry and Technology, Office of Digital Transformation Head Koç stated: "We had very important targets in this strategy. One of them was to create 50,000 artificial intelligence jobs. At the same time, we needed to train 10,000 postgraduate-level specialists with artificial intelligence knowledge and education, and to rank in the world's top 20 in academic indices. We will achieve these with our universities, our academics and our young people. In this respect, I believe the protocol we will sign today is very valuable." Noting that data is the lifeblood of artificial intelligence, Dr. Ali Taha Koç stated that Türkiye is very rich in data. Saying they are proceeding with the motto of generating value from data in Türkiye, Koç added: "By cooperating with our universities, we will not only store these data, but we will start to generate value from these data. I believe our cooperation is important in this regard as well. We want these technologies to touch human lives. Hopefully, through the work we will do, we will develop human-centered projects and reach our citizens. I hope our cooperation will be successful in this regard. I believe that henceforth we will implement more projects, train more people, and take Türkiye to the status of a brand country. Just as we became a world brand with UAVs, tactical UAVs and surveillance UAVs, we have the potential to become a world brand through the projects and companies we will produce in the field of artificial intelligence."

Knowledge and Human Resources Exist at BUÜ

BUÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Saim Kılavuz emphasized that universities are responsible for creating human resources, producing scientific and technological R&D projects and serving society. Pointing out that the ultimate goal is to contribute to people and society, Rector Prof. Dr. A. Saim Kılavuz stated: "Science is for people and society. We operate with this philosophy and we want to touch people in some way. In this regard, I thank our Head of the Office of Digital Transformation of the Presidency and his entire team who have made great contributions and provided benefits to us. We believe the framework of cooperation will continue to develop. Our university has a capacity of 70,000 students. We know we will be the address of proper human resources with quality education. On the other hand, we also have serious accumulation of knowledge. I believe that if we manage this correctly and cooperate with every segment of society, first our university, then our city, our country and our people will benefit."

ULUTEK companies will also benefit

Prof. Dr. Fatih Karpat, providing information about the content, explained that cooperation will take place between the Office of Digital Transformation of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye and Bursa Uludağ University in the fields of cybersecurity, big data, artificial intelligence, open source, intelligent autonomous systems and artificial intelligence-based medical applications—areas needed in Türkiye's digital transformation process—covering R&D and technology development alongside human resources training, as well as cooperation on education and training matters. Karpat also shared that under the protocol framework, cooperation will be conducted for the sharing of open data sources needed by the country and data held by the university, as well as for the joint use of laboratory infrastructure, and that companies operating within ULUTEK will receive support from the Office of Digital Transformation of the Presidency for academic-supported projects. Following the opening remarks, Dr. Ali Taha Koç, Head of the Office of Digital Transformation of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, and BUÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Saim Kılavuz signed the prepared protocol. University Board Members, Office of Digital Transformation managers, academics and students were also present at the ceremony.