With the motto “The universe does not like voids,” the results of the 25th “Bilişim 500 – Top 500 IT Companies Survey” conducted this year were announced at an awards ceremony held on Wednesday, August 7, at Grand Pera – Emek Stage (Historic Emek Cinema) in Istanbul Beyoğlu.

Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu, an expert in IT Contracts and a Forensic Expert, continues her pre-academic research while developing the CLC 360 – MIM CHI 360 Education training model. She is involved in designing, scripting, and delivering IT and innovation training both at universities and corporate levels, and she shares her insights at various symposia, panels, and discussions. Additionally, she has contributed to BT Haberi with periodic columns. In her comments about the BT HABER event “Bilişim 500 Plus,” which she attended as a guest, she stated:

“The universe does not like voids.” A cosmic and beautiful motto has been chosen. In a universe where infinite growth continues and there is no infinite smallness, this void takes on a mysterious meaning, especially from a philosophical perspective. The void’s connotation in astronomy seems quite strong metaphorically. The motto’s proposition in a universe that is both finite and infinite reminds us of both aspects. Concepts like space-time, thermodynamics, and entropy have their counterparts in the IT sector. Any gap, no matter how small, in protecting all information in IT systems through various information security measures, can lead to irrecoverable and irreparable losses such as damage to reputation, as well as material losses. The IT world, like the universe, surely does not like voids. Let me put it this way: Any technical or human resource-related obstacle preventing adequate data, information, cybersecurity, and privacy protection throughout the life cycle of all IT elements is a void.

Looking at the diversity in the fields of activity of the awarded companies—defense, insurance, banking, finance, logistics, geographic information systems, human resources, tourism…—there is hardly any sector untouched by IT in this competition. Diversity and inclusivity are fundamental elements of a holistic perspective. It is evident that BTHaber has progressed without missing the target in this regard.

Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu, who has recently focused her work on new-generation technologies and AI applications in the maritime and aviation sectors, as well as niche areas like error detection and prevention in Crew Resource Management (CRM) and cognitive and behavioral error prevention in human-machine interactions, also shared the following about the event:

“It was noteworthy that the speeches contained clear semantic and contextual integrity rather than information bombardment. I got to know BT Haber during my 10-year tenure at a reputable telecommunications company, where I wrote columns occasionally. According to the survey results based on companies’ turnover information, Turkcell is at the top of the list of Turkey’s largest 10 IT companies. Yes, I knew it then too; it was to be expected. BT Haber is professional in their field. Using a sociological term of social interaction, ‘BT Haber has provided us with a good platform for formal professional socialization.’ GenAI, or generative AI, as a star of the present and future, has contributed significantly to encouraging sector stakeholders to develop the competencies of the 21st century. The concept of ‘impact’ is established; it creates an effect. From a deep perspective of cause and effect and context, the benefits highlighted by President Mr. Göçe during his speech become more apparent.

It can be said that such an event contributes to Turkey’s sustainable prosperity. By addressing all areas of the IT ecosystem, from infrastructure management to cloud security and beyond information security, and maintaining all quality and security standards, it brings together the sector and professionals who lead the way in accelerating investments and work with cybersecurity in parallel. The ceremony deepens the understanding of how it united cross-functional stakeholders in accelerating all IT-specific activities with higher agility. The interactions and networking during the event also have the potential for a positive impact on the development of employment. As Minister Fatih Sayan mentioned in his speech, ‘While speaking of an ecosystem that has rapidly grown in the software and IT sector over the past 10 years, he also referred to the potential for 100,000 additional jobs by 2025.’”

Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu Emphasizes Cybersecurity, Data, and Information Security

As mentioned earlier, any gap in protecting all information in IT systems through various security measures, which can lead to irreparable losses such as damage to reputation, is a vulnerability area.

I began my involvement in the IT world and information security long before the concept of information security was widespread, not only in Turkey but globally. Updates were being made to data protection directives, which are considered significant components of EU information security policies, economic, and information society policies, covering all areas like communication security, network security, and information security. I have been following these developments since the mid-1990s. Nearly 30 years have passed, and looking back, I see that McCumber’s definition of information security—describing protection against unauthorized access, use, disclosure, destruction, modification, or malicious attempts that damage the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information—is quite comprehensive and still relevant today.

Considering this, the motto of BT, when viewed in context, reflects that the universe does not like voids; thus, a gap in protecting information security is neither desired nor welcomed. Thirty years have passed; I am talking about the European Union. We are currently experiencing a time when the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, which promotes the adoption of human-centered and reliable AI technologies, is in effect. The EU AI Regulation was published in the Official Journal in July 2024. I immediately counted the areas containing the word “security” in the regulation—there were 101 in total. I finished reading it in one breath and will write a few articles on it in the coming days.

Returning to the topic, McCumber’s theoretical model is fundamental for developing national or international policies on information security and implementing it comprehensively. This model groups the three different aspects of information (characteristics/security services, states, and security measures). This model was not only relevant in the field of IT contracts but also in the management of information and information security policies. The primary objective here was to plan all security measures taken to protect the characteristic feature of information, raise awareness against all types of harmful intrusions threatening the security of information and information systems, accelerate awareness efforts, and ensure comprehensive collaboration to fight across all areas. I carried out my work with this understanding, and it turned out as I foresaw. Now, in the year of the 2024 world elections, I am researching the dimension of information security and the cybersecurity and information security policies of countries. This provides a powerful insight into IT contracts. A few days ago, I analyzed the sensitive and critical points during the rise of VPN usage following Instagram’s blocking, and addressed information security risks, vulnerability areas where protection shields are removed, and gaps. To me, security comes first not only in IT, data, and data privacy protection but in every area of life. This is a matter that I emphasize with bold letters. Of course, I foresee an ecosystem framework that assumes equal opportunity and access to information, with awareness of ethical values. Observing the award categories, it is clear that areas such as hardware security and cybersecurity were not overlooked. I reiterate that information and security are the most important issues in IT. There are specialized committees in the Parliament; nothing is ineffective, such as the Industry, Trade, Energy, Natural Resources, Information, and Technology Committee. This specialized committee also addresses IT, information, and information security. To understand patterns and read between the lines is essential. Therefore, I implemented the CLC 360 Chi Lange Challenge EducAction and MIM CHI 360 model design-focused thinking project. I am progressing by integrating CRM team resource management concepts and applications. Recognizing that the IT sector’s ecosystem is a living organism broadens the horizon of context. This means approaching the elimination of human errors and risks with swift steps. The era of warrior societies and industrial societies is over; the reality of today is a post-industrial information and values society. We live in a world of inseparable competition and solidarity. The ceremony had a secular and patriotic pattern. We started the event with our national anthem, the Independence March, and there were violin performances and dance shows. We are surrounded by a post-industrial information society; we are surrounded by individuals with high skill levels and sophisticated thinking. A community that shapes and is shaping the future. Soon, an information society that will evolve into information technologies and has increasing demands from the ecosystem. The universe does not like voids; understanding and solving the dynamics of the IT sector requires universal literacy. The export and financial literacy, technology literacy, and other aspects highlighted in the speeches at this ceremony fundamentally depend on this sustainable, resilient, visionary, innovative, dynamic, and vigorous universal literacy.

Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu’s Message on the Event

The event began with the national anthem, featuring a patriotic and secular opening integrated with national values.

Companies’ Total Revenue: In 2022, companies’ total revenue reached 716 billion TL (30 billion USD), marking a 93% increase compared to the previous year. There was also over a 30% growth in USD terms. The star of artificial intelligence is well-aligned with the sectors.

The main focus of the event was the “Bilişim 500 – Top 500 ICT Companies Research,” considered one of the important studies in the field, which I participated in. According to the research findings based on companies’ revenue information, the top 500 ICT companies in 2023 achieved a total revenue of 716 billion TL, marking a nearly 93% increase from the previous year. This year, 74 new companies joined the ranking, with 140 companies showing over 100% growth. The average growth of the top 5 companies was recorded at 680%, with the highest growth rate reaching 1,468%. With artificial intelligence becoming central in the industry over the past year, AI revenues grew by 185% compared to the previous year.

Under the motto “The universe does not like voids,” the 25th “Bilişim 500 – Top 500 ICT Companies Research” results were announced at an awards ceremony held on August 7, Wednesday, at the Grand Pera – Emek Stage in Istanbul (Historic Emek Cinema). The Bilişim 500 Research featured awards in six main categories: “Distributor Category Awards,” “System Integrator and Partner Category Awards,” “International Centered Manufacturer/Representative Category Awards,” “Turkey Centered Manufacturer Category Awards,” “Bilişim 500 Plus Awards,” and “Turkey Economic Contribution Special Awards.”

In the Turkey Economic Contribution Special Awards category, the winner for R&D Investment of the Year was Logo Yazılım, while Deeptech won the Artificial Intelligence category. Karel Elektronik was awarded for Turkey-centered hardware production, Türk Telekom for Turkey-centered service production, Intertech for Turkey-centered software production, Arkel for hardware exports, Teleperformance Türkiye for service exports, and Erka Grubu for software exports.

The ceremony was sponsored by KoçSistem, with Odine as the publication sponsor and Bulutistan, Iovis, Arvento Mobile Systems, Bimser, Nagarro+MBIS, Sistem Global, and Teletek as presentation sponsors. The event started with a solo violin performance by Zeynep Kalınkaya and a dance show.

In the opening speech by BThaber President Murat Göçe, the Bilişim 500 Awards ceremony highlighted the 25-year uninterrupted journey of the event. He emphasized the research as an important reference source for investors and professionals wanting to understand industry trends, company standings, and competition. Göçe also noted the benefits of the research, including its role as a source for foreign investors and its influence on purchasing decisions. He stressed the continuous growth of the research with increasing company participation each year and recognized the contributions of past and present figures in the sector.

Göçe noted that while the ICT sector in Turkey was stagnant until the 2000s, it experienced rapid growth from 2004 to 2016, with a decline from 2016 to 2022. He mentioned that the decline ended in 2022 and that the sector saw a significant 30% growth in dollar terms in 2023. Göçe highlighted Turkey’s position in the global ICT market, noting that with a 30% growth rate, Turkey is poised to capture a significant share of the global ICT market in the near future.

Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan: In his speech, T.C. Ulaştırma ve Altyapı Bakanlığı (Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure) Deputy Minister Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan emphasized the Turkish ICT sector’s role as a locomotive force impacting various industries through digitalization. He discussed the rapid growth of the ICT ecosystem over the past decade and outlined the potential for 100,000 additional jobs and $10 billion in export potential by 2025. Sayan highlighted the goal of transitioning to 100% domestic 5G technology and the importance of investing in local technologies for sustainable prosperity. He also acknowledged the contributions of stakeholders, sponsors, and everyone supporting the sector and expressed hope for the continued success of such initiatives.

Dr. Hakan Yurdakul: “Our Greatest Strength is Human Resources. The Need for Youth to Focus on Horizontal Development Areas like ICT for National Competitiveness”

Dr. Hakan Yurdakul, Member of the Presidential Economic Policy Council, emphasized in his speech, “In our current era, increasing resilience and ensuring sustainability are vital for the future of our companies. Care must be taken with export and financial literacy, as being strong in these areas allows for quick and effective solutions even during crises.”

He highlighted that the greatest strength in the ICT sector is human resources, stating, “We must value our human resources, which are the greatest strength of our companies, and develop a fair sharing model with our employees. This approach is critical for long-term growth and trust. I believe that young people should focus on horizontal development areas such as ICT when choosing their fields of education. Technical and vocational training opportunities in these areas are crucial for increasing our country’s future competitiveness.”

Özlem Unan: “Technology Production in Turkey is Growing; AI and Its Revenues are Expanding, While Those Not Adapting to Market Dynamics Are Shrinking”

BThaber Vice President Özlem Unan shared the research results and sector analysis in her speech. She pointed out the development of the ICT sector, noting, “The research results show that companies or categories that fail to adapt to market dynamics are shrinking, while technologies like artificial intelligence are growing rapidly. AI revenues grew by 185% compared to the previous year, and 140 companies in the ranking showed over 100% growth. It would not be incorrect to state that revenue from IT hardware is narrowing, while software and service revenues continue to grow.”

Unan also emphasized the 125% growth in revenues for Turkey-centered producers, which reached 309 billion TL, stating, “This growth rate, which is above the average growth of the companies in the ranking, confirms that software is the driving force. The growth in software for finance/banking and defense sectors is also significant. Revenue from finance and banking software grew by 114% to exceed 10 billion TL, while defense sector software grew by 66%. When evaluating software, it is also important to mention software and service exports. Software export revenues grew by 107% to surpass 7 billion TL, and service export revenues grew by over 60%.”

Mehmet Ali Akarca: “Generative AI Has the Potential to Transform Industries; A Clear AI Strategy is Essential”

KoçSistem General Manager Mehmet Ali Akarca noted that artificial intelligence has become an integral part of daily life, stating, “According to the Bilişim 500 Research, one-third of the participating companies showed growth in 2023, reflecting Turkey’s uninterrupted progress in technology investments. Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing many sectors from banking to healthcare, with the market size expected to reach 827 billion dollars by 2030. Generative AI has the potential to transform industries and improve our lives, but to manage this process effectively, companies must develop a clear AI strategy. As one of Turkey’s most valuable ICT brands, KoçSistem is accelerating digital transformation and Industry 4.0 journeys, while also managing the threats and opportunities in this process through collaboration and strategic steps.”