A Center of Chemical Technology Will be Opened in Kocaeli

In the field of chemistry, one of Türkiye’s leading export sectors, significant development has come to the front. Signatures were affixed for the Chemical Technology Center (KTM), which will meet the industry’s needs for testing and analysis with domestic and national resources as well as creating an ecosystem for the next generation. KTM will be a Research and Development Center offering training and consulting services, and it will be the first of its kind in Türkiye. It will be opened in The Technology and Innovation Base.

Mustafa Varank, Minister of Industry and Technology, stated that KTM will conduct 209 industry-required tests with domestic and national facilities, in accordance with international standards, and added, “Innovative start-ups that will develop chemical technologies will flourish in this center, which will be one of the best examples of public, industry, and university cooperation.”

Having brought into existence with the aid of The Republic of Türkiye Istanbul Development Agency, KTM has embarked on a mission in order to produce domestic goods with added value and advanced technology. KTM, which will be the first of its kind in Türkiye, aims to establish a chemistry ecosystem for the next generation in its field. KTM will commence its activities in Türkiye’s Technology and Innovation Base, namely, Bilişim Vadisi.

KTM’s signatures were drawn in Bilişim Vadisi. Under the supervision of Minister Varank, Istanbul Chemicals and Products Exporters’ Association (İKMİB) President Adil Pelister and Bilişim Vadisi General Manager A. Serdar İbrahimcioğlu signed the documents on the establishment of KTM. Kocaeli Governor Seddar Yavuz, Deputy Minister of Trade Özgür Volkan Ağar, and sector representatives attended the ceremony.

VISION OF NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY MOVEMENT

In his remarks at the ceremony, Minister Varank stated that the Bilişim Vadisi, which was inaugurated by H.E. Mr. President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2019, is one of the most concrete steps of the National Technology Move vision.

MORE THAN 270 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FIRM

Noting that Togg’s partner SIRO develops battery technologies for electric vehicles in Bilişim Vadisi and that roughly a thousand engineers are involved in Togg’s research and development activities in Bilişim Vadisi, Minister Varank said, “We are currently transitioning from mobility to information and communication technology to software.” More than 270 R&D firms operating in critical areas ranging from design to manufacturing are located here.”

IT WILL REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON EXTERNAL SOURCES

Minister Varank stated that the Chemistry Technology Center, which began under the leadership of İKMİB and has reached its current state as a result of a very comprehensive needs analysis, will expedite the testing and analysis processes required by the industry and reduce Türkiye’s reliance on foreign suppliers in this sector.

IT WILL HAVE A CAPACITY TO CONDUCT 209 TESTS

Varank, emphasizing that the chemistry industry had to rely on foreign services for nearly 50 tests and analyses, stated, “When this center becomes operational, 209 tests required by the industry will be conducted here in accordance with international standards, utilizing domestic and national resources. This center is intended as a qualified R&D center that will provide the industry with comprehensive training and consulting services. Therefore, it will make substantial contributions to the sector’s technical and human capacity development.”

WE DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF A DELAY

Varank, explaining that an incubation center will be established in the center, also stated, “Innovative start-ups that develop chemical technologies will flourish in this center, which will be one of the best examples of public, industry, and university collaboration. I would like to request that the İKMİB management act expeditiously so that this location can be completed and put into service as soon as possible. At such a time when the competitive conditions in the global economy are redesigned, we do not have the luxury of delaying the works that will give us an advantage.”

WE WILL REINVIGORATE THE ECONOMY

Noting that inflation has become a global issue affecting all nations as a result of the pandemic and war, Varank stated, “Our government is exerting great effort through all of its institutions to solve this issue, which also affects Türkiye. With our proactive policies and diligent vigilance against profiteers, I have no doubt that we will overcome this challenge together. We will take the exact approach to revitalize the economy. Just like when we took over, inflation in the Turkish economy was in double digits, but we reduced it to single digits. Together, we will reach brighter days with a little patience and by not being provoked.”

WE BRING CHEMISTRY AND INFORMATICS TOGETHER

At the ceremony, İbrahimcioğlu, General Manager of Bilişim Vadisi, emphasized that “Through the Chemical Technologies Center, where we led the way in Türkiye. As the automotive and chemistry industries form the two strongest fields in the region, we bring together chemistry with informatics. On this occasion, we are bringing together the chemistry industry and one of our six vertical markets, the mobility.”

A NEW MODEL

İbrahimcioğlu highlighted that the nature of technological transformation is the need to work in harmony with multiple factors, adding, “Along with the awareness of the importance of the chemistry industry, we are also cooperating with up to 300 software companies in the Bilişim Vadisi, where we can provide support. This center will not only serve as a center for the study of chemical technologies, but it will also provide entrepreneurs in the field of chemistry with an infrastructure that will allow them to conduct business more effectively in Türkiye. In fact, we are assembling a business model for incubation that will serve chemistry entrepreneurs.”

WE WILL EXCEED 50 BILLION DOLLARS

KMB President Pelister stated that their primary objective is to raise the chemical industry, which provides raw materials, semi-finished products, and finished goods to 27 other sectors and 16 sub-sectors, to the highest levels found in all developed nations by saying: “We have attained the top position in exports on a sectoral basis. We will continue to exert all of our efforts toward making this situation permanent. We will exceed our export target for the chemical industry of $50 billion by 2030.”