Türkiye Game Cluster Stakeholder Meeting Held

The Türkiye Game Cluster, which aims to strengthen Türkiye’s gaming industry on a global scale, brought together its stakeholders on August 14 at the Entertech Maslak Entrepreneurship Office. Dr. Damla Turan, Acting Director General of R&D Incentives at the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Industry and Technology, and Canan Ünlü Şahin, Head of the Clustering Department, attended the event and once again emphasized their support for the development of the sector. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammed Kasapoğlu, Coordinator of the Türkiye Game Cluster and General Manager of Entertech Istanbul Technopark, also participated in the event, sharing his insights on the current state and future of the cluster. The gathering provided an important overview of Türkiye’s gaming ecosystem while highlighting the strength of public-private sector collaboration.

In addition to gaming companies operating within the cluster, members of the Executive Board, representatives from TOGED (Turkish Game Developers Association), and the TOBB Creative Industries Assembly were invited to the event. The program began with opening remarks, followed by discussions on Türkiye’s potential in the gaming and creative industries, the contributions of public incentives to the sector, and the impact of the clustering model on the industry’s competitiveness. Dr. Damla Turan emphasized the strategic importance of R&D incentives for gaming companies, while Canan Ünlü Şahin provided participants with information on the coordination of clustering activities and future planning. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammed Kasapoğlu shared his perspectives on the clustering initiatives carried out under the Türkiye Game Cluster, infrastructure projects addressing the needs of the industry, and international collaborations.

During the first session of the program, a comprehensive presentation was delivered on the Türkiye Game Cluster’s founding purpose, activities carried out to date, and medium-term objectives. Participants were briefed on the cluster’s efforts to foster international collaborations, expand into international markets, and develop the skilled human resources needed by the industry. Following the presentation, the session titled “The Future of the Türkiye Game Cluster: Stakeholder Perspectives,” featuring contributions from leading industry representatives, became one of the highlights of the event. The session addressed current challenges faced by gaming companies, next-generation gaming technologies, AI-powered production processes, international investment and publishing partnerships, and Türkiye’s potential for game exports. Stakeholders from different disciplines emphasized the need to develop a shared vision and strategic roadmap to make the sector more competitive, while sharing their recommendations and expectations for the future.

The meeting, which featured extensive interaction and exchange of ideas among participants throughout the sessions, concluded with evaluation and closing remarks. The closing session highlighted the achievements made to date and provided information on the schedule of upcoming workshops, training programs, and international engagements. At the end of the event, participants expressed their satisfaction with the synergy created by the cluster and emphasized the importance of making such gatherings a regular practice for the future of the industry. The Türkiye Game Cluster once again reaffirmed its commitment to continuing its work with the goal of fostering sustainable growth and strengthening the global competitiveness of Türkiye’s gaming industry.