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Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır said Turkey is preparing to drop foreign map and navigation applications from phones and rely entirely on a national navigation app from the beginning of 2027, describing the field as strategic for data security.

Kacır made the announcement at Bursa Technical University's 2026-2027 academic year opening and honorary doctorate ceremony, where an honorary doctorate in science and technology was conferred on the minister.

Honorary doctorate and Bursa visit

Rector Prof. Dr. Naci Çağlar also addressed the ceremony, at which Kacır received an honorary doctorate in science and technology. Attendees included Bursa Governor Erol Ayyıldız, acting mayor of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Şahin Biba, TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Orhan Aydın, Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor Mustafa Çelenk, AK Party Bursa Provincial Chair Davut Gürkan, Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chair Özer Matlı, district mayors, institution directors, academics and students. Kacır later paid a visit to acting mayor Şahin Biba.

Key takeaways

• Turkey plans to remove foreign map and navigation apps from phones and switch fully to a national navigation application from the beginning of 2027.
• Minister Kacır called the field strategic, citing data security, and said TOGG has made significant contributions to the project.
• A lunar vehicle built with more than 80% local content is to be sent to the Moon in the first months of 2027, which would make Turkey one of nine countries to reach it.
• Turkey aims to train 10,000 advanced AI specialists and 100,000 AI professionals and reach five million citizens with AI literacy within two years.