Turkey's R&D expenditures are rapidly increasing.

Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır announced the progress made by Turkey in the field of research and development (R&D) to the public. Minister Kacır stated that Turkey's R&D expenditures increased significantly from 16 billion dollars to 20 billion dollars in the past year. This increase is seen as a concrete indicator of the steps the country has taken towards its technological development and innovation goals.

Kacır emphasized that Turkey’s R&D workforce has also reached 311,000, marking a total increase of 20,000 people in this process. This situation once again highlights the importance of the country's education system and the experts trained by universities in the field of R&D. The development of the competencies needed in the R&D area is made possible through the collaboration between the private and public sectors.

Additionally, Kacır pointed out that 64.8% of the total R&D expenditures are carried out by the private sector, stating that this reflects a correct strategy for the private sector to focus on R&D activities. By making R&D investments to enhance their competitiveness on a global scale, private sector firms are significantly increasing the country's innovation capacity.

Short-term benefits of this increase include aspects such as new product development and the improvement of existing products. The rise in Turkey's R&D expenditures and workforce presents great potential, particularly in terms of technological innovations and industrial productivity. Innovation-oriented approaches will guide the overall growth of the country’s economy and enable Turkey to become more competitive on the international stage.

As a result, this rise in Turkey’s R&D sector will both support economic growth and increase the demand for qualified personnel in the labor market. During this process, the continued collaboration between both public and private sector stakeholders will contribute to strengthening the country’s innovation ecosystem.