Artificial Intelligence and Technology Association

The Artificial Intelligence and Technology Association ( Yapay Zeka ve Teknoloji Derneği - YZTD) is a leading non-governmental platform in Türkiye that unites startups, corporates, investors, academia, and policymakers around a shared vision of building a data-driven economy and society. Acting as the official representative of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence in Türkiye, the association plays a key role in aligning the national ecosystem with global AI developments while fostering cross-sector collaboration.

For Istanbul and the broader Türkiye startup ecosystem, YZTD delivers critical enabling services such as ecosystem coordination, knowledge transfer, and multi-stakeholder collaboration platforms. It connects startups with corporates, investors, and public institutions, helping accelerate commercialization and adoption of AI technologies across sectors. Through its network and activities, the association contributes to positioning Istanbul as a regional hub for artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

The association also leads and contributes to a range of events, programs, and initiatives that directly support innovation and entrepreneurship. These include participation in major global AI conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, World Summit AI, AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence), as well as ecosystem engagement through curated content and event dissemination. At the national level, it organizes initiatives such as the “AI for Society Ideathon”, which mobilizes startups and developers to build solutions in areas like sustainable agriculture, disaster management, education, and financial inclusion. Additionally, YZTD runs AI-focused knowledge platforms (e.g., “AI Güncel”), newsletters, and thematic working groups that support continuous learning, visibility, and collaboration across the ecosystem.