Exports from Technoparks Reach $5 Billion

Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank, speaking at the Technopark Istanbul Phase 2 Opening Ceremony, noted that the factors that have advanced countries in global competition have varied throughout history, and that since the 2000s, the importance of investments in research-development and innovation has become clear. Noting that innovative enterprises with original ideas, conducting R&D and introducing innovative products to the market have become the winners of this period, Varank expressed: "Now, to succeed, it is not enough to merely use technology; you must also produce technology. To produce technology, a well-functioning innovation ecosystem is now a necessity. Under the leadership of our President, over 18 years, thanks to our investments in science and technology, we have built a strong ecosystem. At the same time, we have begun to encourage all players in the ecosystem, who are indispensable stakeholders in our National Technology initiative, with well-designed support that covers all processes from idea to product, and from product to market." Pointing out that they have issued R&D Center certificates to private sector companies since 2008 and Design Center certificates since 2016, Varank noted that companies holding this certificate benefit from tax reductions, insurance premium support, income tax withholding, and stamp duty exemptions. Varank stated, "In addition to tax advantages, we provide grants for investments in technology development zones such as infrastructure, administration buildings and incubation centers. Under this scope, the amount of support we have provided as a ministry to date has exceeded 1 billion lira."

Emphasizing that companies in technology parks also benefit from mentoring, business matching, commercialization and export support, Varank expressed:

"As a result of this comprehensive perspective, today 5,593 companies are operating in our technology parks and approximately 47,000 R&D personnel are employed. Exports from these parks have reached USD 5 billion. We believe this amount will increase many times over, and that new brands from our country will gain important positions in global markets. Indeed, we have set targets in this area in our 2023 Industry and Technology Strategy. We want to include 23 companies from our country among the top 2,500 companies in the world that have a say in R&D investments. We want to develop and bring to market at least 23 intelligent products that will become global brands in disruptive technology fields. Of course, we need entrepreneurs who are innovative, focused and best evaluate opportunities to accomplish these."

"We have a goal of at least 10 Turcorns by 2023"

Varank stated, "As you know, companies that have reached valuations exceeding USD 1 billion from the startup level are called Unicorns. There are over 400 such companies in the world, but unfortunately not a single one from Turkey. Companies of this kind—original, innovative and making a difference—must also emerge from Turkey. We have given our own name to such companies that will come from our country; we call them 'Turcorns'. We have a goal of at least 10 Turcorns by 2023. Technology parks play a critical role in achieving all these targets I mentioned." Touching on Turkey's significant potential for a leap forward in technology-based business, Mustafa Varank expressed: "We want our qualified human resources to focus on the most productive work, to use their intellectual capital for our country's future. We want our R&D campuses to be the center of reverse brain drain, and to be able to bring top-level researchers from all over the world. Global companies should be able to carry out their innovative activities in centers they will open in our countries, and benefit optimally from the infrastructure we have developed. Indeed, today we are opening the Innovation Center of the German BASF company on this campus. This company, which has been operating in our country for 52 years with 6 different production facilities, will establish different laboratories in the innovation center here in areas such as agriculture, automotive, personal care, food solutions and paint raw materials. It will develop collaborations with universities in the region. Of course, our vibrant domestic market, geographic advantages, strong industry and the diversity of products in our industry were influential in the company's decision. Examples like this will reinforce Turkey's goal of becoming a global center of attraction in innovation." Expressing that under President Erdoğan's leadership, Turkey has become a country presented as an example to the world in development, Varank noted that the next target is to gain global economic power and place Turkey among the world's top 10 economies. Minister Varank concluded his speech by stating, "We continue to work in close cooperation with universities, research infrastructure, technology parks, organized industrial zones, and private sector R&D and design centers. The support provided by our ministry is open to everyone from individual entrepreneurs to large companies. With a results-oriented communication and coordination mechanism, we will hopefully reach our targets one by one. I wish Technopark Istanbul well."