Istanbul Development Agency launches 300 million TL innovation program

The Istanbul Development Agency (ISTKA) has launched its 2026 Financial Support Program for Strengthening the Innovation Economy, allocating a total of 300 million TL to bolster the city's innovative ecosystem. Under this program, successful projects will receive funding ranging from 5 million TL to 20 million TL.

Coordinated by the General Directorate of Development Agencies under the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the initiative aims to increase production capacity in innovative industries, enhance collaboration among stakeholders, and strengthen Istanbul's international identity as an innovative city.

The program focuses on two primary areas:

1. Developing production capacity within innovative industries and cultural ecosystems, including the creation of sustainable infrastructures, platforms, and business models. This also includes integrating cultural heritage with new technologies.

2. Strengthening Istanbul's innovative city identity through projects such as the redesign of public spaces, international artist residency programs, and the implementation of extended reality (XR) applications in museums and historical sites.