Power of Intelligence Laboratories — Turkcell and Turkey's Ministry of National Education AI Skills Pipeline

Since 2016, Turkcell — Turkey's largest mobile operator — has partnered with the Ministry of National Education to install 'Power of Intelligence' technology laboratories inside BİLSEM Science and Art Centers, the ministry's national network of centres for gifted and talented students. The programme grew out of the earlier Whiz Kids Project and has expanded steadily over a decade, from 76 classrooms in 48 cities to 87 laboratories across 55 cities in seven regions by 2026.

The labs aim to build technology confidence, curiosity and applied AI, robotics and coding skills among gifted and talented students, while also supporting the professional development of the educators who run the sessions.

Each lab is equipped with laptops, tablets, 3D printers, Raspberry Pi and Arduino kits, sensors and dedicated AI kits. Students work through algorithms, coding and applied AI projects, and the equipment footprint has grown to reach more than 30,000 students with robotics and coding kits by 2026.

A Turkcell-commissioned social-impact survey found 84% of student participants reporting enhanced self-confidence and academic performance, 83% reporting increased curiosity and 82% reporting stronger technology awareness, while 88% of participating educators reported positive professional-development gains. Students from the labs have collectively won more than 400 awards in national and international competitions, and an earlier, independently published GSMA case study recorded 84% of surveyed participants reporting increased interest in technology across 76 classrooms and 250,000 students.

The programme demonstrates decade-long institutional sustainability and geographic growth, but two caveats temper the evidence: BİLSEM centres serve identified gifted and talented students rather than the general student population, narrowing its equity reach, and the headline impact figures come from a Turkcell-commissioned survey rather than an independent, controlled evaluation.