Countries that fail to transform technological knowledge into economic value will not be able to look confidently toward the future in a world shaped by intense international competition.
Technology can simply be defined as knowledge that enables one to say, “I can do this.” As this definition suggests, science and technology are among the most decisive factors shaping the future of societies and nations. Countries that cannot convert technological advancements into economic gains risk falling behind in today’s globally competitive order. As a nation, we must act with this awareness and shape our policies accordingly. Otherwise, technological dependency becomes inevitable. As high-technology manufacturers in Türkiye, we align our activities with this vision and strive to deliver projects that generate long-term national value.
Advanced Nations Embrace National Technology
When we examine developed countries, we see that although they industrialized at different times, they share a common approach: they did not treat industrialization merely as a manufacturing capability but recognized the necessity of mastering national technology to stand out globally. Nations that adopt this understanding succeed in leveraging their technological capabilities as strategic advantages.
Countries that have advanced through high-tech industrialization address research, education, finance, taxation, foreign trade, policy, and legislation as an integrated ecosystem that supports science and technology. Technology cannot be separated from these interconnected domains. The holistic approach embraced by strong nations remains the primary driver of their success.
Türkiye Supports Technology Production
In Türkiye, awareness of the need to strengthen technological capacity has steadily increased. Following the enactment of Law No. 5746 on R&D in 2007, internationally recognized “enabling environments and support mechanisms” became widespread across the country.
The law allows companies to deduct R&D expenditures as expenses while offering significant income tax incentives and employer social security premium support. It also provides customs exemptions for equipment and materials used in R&D activities and exempts R&D personnel from stamp tax. Additionally, within officially established R&D centers, the Ministry of Industry and Technology covers the gross salary of newly employed basic science graduates for two years. These comprehensive incentives have significantly strengthened Türkiye’s innovation ecosystem and placed a historical responsibility on businesses to use these opportunities effectively.
Toward Sustainable Technology Production
Over the past 25 years, Türkiye has successfully built competence in preparing, developing, and producing technological products. The next critical step is to make this production sustainable and competitive by supporting the industrialization of technological products and achieving economies of scale.
Industrialization in priority technology sectors requires rational strategies, targeted investments, and the development of qualified human capital within both universities and industry. These elements collectively contribute to building a strong technology-driven industrial base.
Competing at the Highest Level
Recent global economic crises have shown that even liberal economies prioritize protecting their technological production capacity. For countries like Türkiye, which remain dependent on imported intermediate technological goods, achieving a real breakthrough requires strategies aligned not with current positioning but with the highest global standards. National goals can only be realized through such forward-looking strategies.
Technology-Oriented Industry Move Program
In this context, the “Technology-Oriented Industry Move Program,” published in the Official Gazette on 18 September 2019, marked a significant milestone. The program aims to increase value-added production by concentrating public incentives and support mechanisms on medium- and high-technology sectors. It focuses on developing domestic production capacity for critical, high-potential products identified through a “Priority Product List,” considering criteria such as import dependency, competitive intensity, domestic capabilities, global demand trends, and future potential.
By integrating investment incentives with KOSGEB and TÜBİTAK project supports under a single-window governance model, the program seeks to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles and strengthen Türkiye’s technology-driven industrial transformation. Supporting this strategy is not only an economic necessity but a national mission for all enterprises.
Defense Industry as a Catalyst
The defense industry continues to lead extraordinary technological advancements. By developing critical sub-industries domestically, Türkiye strengthens its ability to produce strategic technologies independently, reducing reliance on external suppliers and overcoming procurement challenges.
Commercialization and Investment
The commercialization of high-value R&D outputs will foster the growth of industrial companies capable of competing nationally and internationally. Supporting the Technology-Oriented Industry Move Strategy with venture capital and investment funds will further accelerate innovation, sustainable growth, and global competitiveness.
National Technology as a Strategic Priority
As industry representatives, we remain committed to developing future technologies and supporting initiatives that strengthen Türkiye’s technological sovereignty. Achieving major successes requires bold ambitions. With a unified national strategy and sustained effort, Türkiye can solidify its position as a producer of advanced technologies and a competitive global industrial power.