Turkic States Launch Bold Digital Strategy to Unify Tech and Education
Leaders from the Turkic states have outlined a bold new digital strategy to move beyond talk and focus on action. At the recent Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) summit, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan proposed concrete steps to boost regional integration through technology. The plan includes education, cybersecurity, and a network of AI centres to drive progress. President Tokayev called for a Network of Turkic AI Centers to connect expertise across member states. He also suggested offering grants for digital education, ensuring citizens gain skills in emerging technologies. These measures aim to build a workforce ready for the digital economy.
A **Turkic AI University** is now in development to expand educational opportunities. The university will focus on training specialists in artificial intelligence, data science, and related fields. Alongside this, the **Turkic AI Hub**—an existing initiative—will be scaled up to support startups and innovation. Cybersecurity has been highlighted as a top concern. Strengthening defences against digital threats is now a key part of the agenda. Tugay Garip, co-founder and CTO of Dapti, stressed that **digital integration must start with people, not just technology**. This means prioritising training, trust standards, and data protection alongside infrastructure projects. The new approach replaces scattered pilot schemes with a **comprehensive digital agenda**. It covers infrastructure, AI development, startup support, and competitive programmes. The goal is to create a unified strategy rather than isolated efforts.
The Turkic states are shifting from broad technological discussions to targeted action. Grants, AI universities, and expanded cybersecurity measures will shape the region’s digital future. The focus now lies on building skills, protecting data, and fostering innovation across borders.
