Field notes, announcements, and analysis.
Updates from CDR's programs, policy monitoring, and writing on the intersection of technology, democracy, and public policy.
CDR Youth 2026 applications are open! 🎓
This year CDR Youth meets young people in Diyarbakır, Adana, Aydın, İzmir and İstanbul. Applications are open for the free program for 18 to 25 year olds.
The new Referandom is live: Tinder for the Turkish Parliament 🔥
Referandom, the Tinder for the Turkish Parliament developed by CDR, is back with a brand-new interface for the new legislative year: parliamentary inquiries, bills, municipal councils and daily games, all one swipe away.
You are invited to the gov2ai Civic Labs Ankara!
As part of the gov2ai program run by CDR, we invite advocacy professionals to explore together the uses of AI in advocacy, communication, and research processes.
CDR awarded RENEW-BOOSTER support! 🚀
CDR has been awarded RENEW-BOOSTER support to develop RENEW-Intel, an AI-powered platform helping energy-grid SMEs track regulatory, material and supply-chain risks.
🤖 We held the Istanbul gathering of Gov2AI Civic Labs.
Together with civil society organizations, we discussed what artificial intelligence means for civil society, explored the questions on our minds, and reflected on where AI can truly create value in the civic space.
You are invited to the gov2ai Civic Labs Istanbul!
As part of the Gov2AI program run by CDR, we invite advocacy professionals to explore together the uses of AI in advocacy, communication, and research processes.
CDR Youth 2025 report is out!
As part of the 2025 cycle, workshops were held in Ankara, Bursa, Eskişehir, Kocaeli, and Tekirdağ. A total of 93 young people participated in these workshops, and following the workshop process, 13 projects were developed under CDR’s mentorship.
We were guests on the Universidad de la Libertad YouTube channel.
CDR President Kadir Yağız Çetin and AI Program Lead Umut Baran Zorlu spoke on the Universidad de la Libertad YouTube channel about the technologies we are developing at the intersection of AI and public policy, as part of the Radical Innovation Summit they attended in Mexico representing CDR.
CDR Youth 2025 Workshops Completed
CDR Youth 2025 Workshops were held between October 13–22 in Kocaeli, Bursa, Eskişehir, Ankara, and Tekirdağ. Throughout the program, a total of 93 young participants gained knowledge on legislative processes, local governance, youth representation, electoral systems, and policy-making mechanisms.
CDR Youth 2025 Workshops in Kocaeli, Bursa, Eskişehir, Ankara, and Tekirdağ!
CDR is relaunching its CDR Youth program this year to enable young people to participate in local decision-making processes. Following the workshops held in Trabzon, Rize, and Istanbul in 2023, and Kayseri, Mersin, and Kahramanmaraş in 2024, this year’s series will expand to cities across the Marmara and Central Anatolia regions.
We took part in the Radical Innovation Summit
We took part in the Radical Innovation Summit, held in Mexico City on September 9–11, 2025, in partnership with Atlas Network and Universidad de la Libertad.
🤖 Civil Society and Artificial Intelligence in Türkiye: CDR's New Report and Seminar Highlights
The AI Journey of Civil Society in Türkiye: CDR’s New Report Published!
Gov2AI seminars are starting!
As CDR, in partnership with the U.S.-based independent research organization Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP) and with the financial support of the U.S. Mission Türkiye, we invite you to fill out the registration form to participate in the seminars organized within the scope of the "Gov2AI | Enhancing the AI Capacity of Civil Society in Türkiye" project.
We are excited to launch the first project of Gov2AI Program.
We are excited to launch the Advancing AI Capacity in Civil Society of Türkiye project.