Number of R&D Centers in Turkey Reaches 961 Over Past Two Years

According to the 2018 Central Government Budget Law Draft, TRY 4.9 billion was allocated from the budget for R&D this year.

With R&D center establishment and management, TUBITAK, TEYDEB R&D and Design Center, and project management services for technology investment support, Experto General Manager Jülide Birol says that the resources allocated for R&D are of great importance in reducing Turkey's import dependency and strengthening domestic industry. With incentives provided in recent years in Turkey, the number of R&D centers established has reached 961. In particular, the "Law on Support of Research and Development Activities and Amendments to Certain Laws and Decree Laws", also known as the R&D Reform Package, which was enacted in 2016, introduced new regulations for R&D Centers. Under the law, the number of full-time equivalent R&D personnel was reduced from 30 to 15. This opened the way for companies at the SME scale to establish R&D centers. While 264 R&D centers were established in the 8 years leading up to the second half of 2016 when all relevant regulations were completed, 697 R&D Centers were established in the last two years. With incentives provided to design companies, 234 design centers were established in 2 years. In light of all these developments, according to the Central Government Budget Law Draft, the amount of resources allocated for R&D in 2018 is TRY 4.9 billion. R&D and Innovation Are Now Essential Experto General Manager Jülide Birol says that the most important advantage for companies receiving R&D support is that the state covers a certain portion of the financing needed for R&D work required for companies to produce quality products.