An All-Time Record in R&D

Highlighting that R&D spending climbed by 20% over the previous year and reached TRY 55 billion under the leadership of the private sector, The Minister of Industry and Technology, Mustafa Varank stated “The ratio of R&D spending to national income climbed from 5% to 1.09 percent. R&D employment expanded sixfold to 200 thousand, while the number of domestic patents increased twentyfold to 8.200.”

Minister Varank attended the “Architects and Engineers Group (MMG)-EURITECH Eurasia R&D, Innovation & Technology Summit and Exhibition” at Bilişim Vadisi, Türkiye’s technology hub. Noting that major themes ranging from digital technologies to green agreements, from software and fintech to next-generation financing instruments will be debated and reviewed within the framework of the program, Varank stated that:

GROWTH RATES: The growth rates for the first quarter of 2022 have been announced. During this period, our economy increased at a 7.3 percent annual rate. Thus, we maintained the balanced growth trend that we established following the pandemic shock during this era as well. When we look at the sub-components, we can see that the industry is the driving power of our economy, with a 7.4 percent growth rate.

A RECORD LEVEL: As a result of these developments, our industry’s proportion of national product has risen to a record 28.9 percent. In other words, production accounted for about one-third of our total revenue. On the other hand, the 10.5 percent growth in plant and equipment investments looks promising for the future. This data indicates that our industry will continue to expand its locomotive role.

INCREASE IN OIZS: In 2002, we had 192 OIZs, the majority of which were under development and concentrated in specific provinces. We completed the shortcomings and extended the number to 366 by announcing new ones with the massive sums we made. Only in the previous two years have we completed projects for 25 different OIZs.

SHINES LIKE THE SUN: According to industrial registry system data, around 1.300 medium and large-sized enterprises have registered with the system and begun production from scratch in the last three years. Only medium and large-scale factories operated. Many of them were opened by me personally. Not to mention the thousands of smaller manufacturing plants. These investments shine brightly throughout Türkiye.

HEART OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP: We prioritize R&D and innovation in all of our businesses. We rolled up our sleeves to create an ecosystem from the ground up. With our assistance, we boosted the number of Technology Development Zones from 5 to 92. Technoparks have become the beating core of our country’s inventive and technology-based enterprise. Along with Technoparks, R&D and Design Centers are critical components of our innovation ecosystem.

EXPENDITURES ON R&D: The number of these centers, which began for the first time during our tenure, has risen to over 1.600 today. Under the leadership of the private sector, R&D spending climbed by 20% year on year last year, reaching 55 billion TRY.

R&D EMPLOYMENT: The private sector, which formerly accounted for only 30% of R&D expenditures, now accounts for 65% of R&D expenditures. The proportion of R&D expenditures to national income increased from 5% to 1.09 percent. R&D employment surged sixfold to 200 thousand, while domestic patents increased twentyfold to 8.200.

INITIATIVES BASED ON TECHNOLOGY: Through TUBITAK, we provide large-scale support for R&D and innovation in green transformation. TOGG, one of our hundreds of trends in electric and autonomous vehicles, is rapidly approaching the point where its vehicles will be phased out of mass production. Our country performs tasks that garner international notice as a result of its technological ambitions.

FLARE CARTRIDGE: There are now six start-ups, known as unicorns, which have a billion-dollar valuation. These are, of course, merely flares. As our innovation ecosystem gains experience, our country’s competitive position will improve significantly.

PRODUCTION AND INVESTMENT: For the last five quarters, our country has experienced a significant increase in production and investment, thanks to the industry and technology ecosystem. When we look at exports, we observe the same level of success. Our 12-month exports totaled more than 240 billion dollars.

JOIN US IN SUPPORT: With TEKNOFESTs, DENEYAP Technology Workshops, and 42 next-generation software schools, we are raising valuable young people like you who have integrated critical technology. We are constantly eager to do more as a Ministry. Come show your support for us. Let us work together to make our dream of a large and powerful Türkiye a reality.

Bülent Şen, Chairman of MMG, also spoke on the event.

Later, Bülent Şen, Chairman of the Architects and Engineers Group, presented Minister Varank with a gift.

Minister Varank, Kocaeli Governor Seddar Yavuz, Deputy Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Bilişim Vadisi General Director Serdar İbrahimcioğlu, and Mr. Şen attended the summit stands.

Minister Varank then rode electric scooters while chatting with participants and taking selfies with students.