23 Sep Turkey’s Economic and Digital Transformation Agenda under the Medium-Term Program
Authors: Meltem Manav and Yeşim Kumova Mağat
The Medium-Term Program (“MTP”), published on 7 September 2025, sets out comprehensive objectives not only for economic and fiscal policies but also for digital transformation and the legal framework for the next three years (2026–2028). MTP introduces significant reforms particularly in the areas of personal data protection (alignment of KVKK with the GDPR), commercialization of intellectual property, artificial intelligence strategy, cybersecurity infrastructure, and national data policies.
KVKK and Personal Data Protection
The alignment process of the Law on the Protection of Personal Data (“KVKK”) with the European Union (“EU”) General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) will be completed, thereby integrating Turkey’s data protection regime with EU standards. This step aims to establish a harmonized framework in terms of data processing conditions, cross-border transfer mechanisms, and sanctions. In addition, a national policy framework will be prepared to accelerate the transition to the data economy, data ownership and sharing responsibilities will be redefined, and National Data Strategy and Action Plan will be put into effect. The implementation of a blockchain-based digital identity management infrastructure in public services is also planned.
Intellectual Property
In light of the workload and trial durations of Intellectual and Industrial Property Rights Courts, the establishment of new specialized courts has been placed on the agenda. To enhance social awareness, the legal infrastructure will be strengthened, ecosystems supporting the creation of intellectual property rights will be developed, and the commercialization of such rights will be accelerated. Furthermore, by leveraging artificial intelligence technologies in industrial property registration processes, decision-making quality will be improved, and procedures will be expedited.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity regulations aligned with EU legislation will be introduced. Quantum-based communication infrastructures will be developed, and preparations will be made for the post-quantum era through the adoption of next-generation cryptographic[1] methods. In addition, the Public Cloud Computing Strategy will be implemented to ensure that the information technology infrastructures of public institutions are secure, cost-effective, and sustainable.
Artificial Intelligence
The National Artificial Intelligence Strategy will be updated and harmonized with the EU Artificial Intelligence Act. Calls will be launched to support the development of local and original AI models, supercomputing capacity will be expanded, and the TRUBA[2] infrastructure will be strengthened. A Turkish Large Language Model will also be developed to enhance Turkish natural language processing capabilities. Moreover, AI-based inspection mechanisms will be established for monitoring the placement of industrial products on the market.
National Data Policies and Data Portability
To accelerate the transition to the data economy, a national policy framework will be prepared to regulate data ownership, sharing responsibilities, and technical methods. The National Data Strategy and Action Plan will aim to establish a governance structure that ensures data security and privacy. The integration of blockchain-based digital identity management infrastructure into public services is also envisaged.
General Assessment
The MTP presents a roadmap for Turkey’s digital transformation that is aligned with the EU and focused on security and innovation. The alignment of KVKK with the GDPR, effective protection and commercialization of intellectual property, integration with international standards in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, and the implementation of a national data strategy stand out as key steps to enhance the country’s competitiveness in the digital economy.
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[1] The branch of science that deals with making data obscure and encrypted.
[2] Turkish National Science E-Infrastructure Strengthening Project
