Bogazici University, among Türkiye’s most prestigious academic institutions, hosted the Finance Summit 2025 in the historic Albert Long Hall on the university’s South Campus on May 10th and 11^th.

The two-day event brought together leading figures in monetary policy, investment, financial technologies, and digital transformation under the theme: “Financial Transformation in the Age of Uncertainty.”

The gathering provided a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue. High-level policymakers, industry executives and scholars convened to examine the shifting contours of the global economy and technological landscape.

Key participants included Fatih Karahan, Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (CBRT); Ahmet Burak Daglioglu, Head of the Republic of Türkiye Investment Office; and Arda Ermut, CEO and Board Member of the Türkiye Wealth Fund. Their presence demonstrated the summit’s role as a forum bridging government, academia and the private sector.

In his opening remarks, Bogazici University Rector, Professor Mehmet Naci Inci, emphasised the university’s broader civic duty: not only to produce knowledge, but to channel it towards national progress through informed dialogue. 

“At Bogazici University, we do not stop at the creation of scientific knowledge,” he said. “We believe it is our fundamental mission to transform this knowledge into public benefit and to provide platforms for open, constructive discussions that help shape the future of our country. The Finance Summit is a strong reflection of this responsibility.”

He spoke on the growing and transformative intersectionality of economics, finance and technology. He added that data, AI, and digital infrastructure are driving transformation, and Bogazici University positions itself not as a passive observer, but as a leading force actively shaping this change.

In an interview with TRT World, Professor Inci elaborated:

“At Bogazici University, we consider it a core mission to provide a platform for discussions that can pave the way for Türkiye’s future across various fields. The Finance Summit can be seen as part of this vision. It became a significant gathering that brought together leading figures from Türkiye’s financial ecosystem. In particular, I believe it offered a comprehensive examination of how financial systems are evolving amid the growing uncertainty of today’s rapidly changing world. In this regard, Bogazici University successfully served as a bridge between academic expertise and the leadership of both the private and public sectors.”

“Now is the time to leap forward”

On the second day of the summit, Mehmet Fatih Kacir, Minister of Industry and Technology, outlined Türkiye’s innovation agenda and industrial vision through 2030.

“Our 2030 Industry and Technology Strategy outlines programs that will boost R&D and domestic production in high-tech and critical sectors,” Kacir said. “We aim to accelerate digital transformation across the economy and expand support tools and international financing options to guide our industry toward low-carbon production.”

He said that Türkiye’s exports of medium- and high-tech products had increased tenfold since 2002, reaching $101.2 billion in 2024. “Two-thirds of our $16bn annual R&D expenditure now comes from the private sector,” he added, “and the share of R&D in our national income has reached levels comparable to developed economies.”

Minister Kacir detailed several flagship programmes, including the Technology-Oriented Industry Initiative, which supports innovation from research to production in strategic areas such as machinery, mobility, digital transformation and advanced manufacturing.

He also pointed to the HIT-30 High Technology Investment Programme—Türkiye’s most ambitious incentive scheme for future-focused sectors ranging from semiconductors and aerospace to green energy and digital health. The programme offers project-based support, financial incentives and infrastructure to cultivate next-generation manufacturing hubs.

“In March alone, we announced 19 major investments across sectors that will create more than 20,000 qualified jobs and contribute $12.4 billion annually to our current account balance,” he said.

Kacir reaffirmed the government’s broader macroeconomic agenda, including the fight against inflation, support for SMEs, and investment in entrepreneurship. He cited the KOSGEB Capacity Building Support Programme, which has already approved over 19.5 billion lira (approximately $ 502.71 million) in investments.

“We must not lose sight of the big picture,” he said. “Türkiye’s technological rise is underway, backed by our innovation capacity, industrial strength, and strategic vision. Now is the time to leap forward.” 

Finance Summit 2025 left a lasting mark by successfully uniting Türkiye’s public and private financial leadership with the academic community—an intersection increasingly crucial in navigating the uncertainties of our time. 

The summit underscored that strategic cooperation, visionary leadership, and academic insight remain Türkiye’s greatest assets in securing a stable, innovative, and prosperous economic future.