Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır said, “In the Horizon Europe Program covering the years 2021-2027, we have brought 243 million euros of grant support to Turkey through 486 projects involving 1107 Turkish executives since 2021.”
Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır and European Union (EU) Commission Member Responsible for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Iliana Ivanova attended the “Turkey-European Union, Science, Research, Technology” event held closed to the press at the Presidential Dolmabahçe Labor Office. and Innovation High Level Dialogue 2nd Meeting.
Making a statement to the press after the meeting, Kacır pointed out that the High Level Dialogue Meeting is a mechanism that aims to discuss bilateral relations in a more focused manner, from the highest authorities, and set an important and comprehensive agenda by discussing bilateral relations with the EU at the highest level within the framework of the meeting. He said that they had productive discussions around the issue.
Kacır stated that they held important consultations on issues including science and technology policies, green and digital transformation of the industry, Turkey’s more effective use of EU funds, and increased participation in EU structures related to science and R&D, and added: “Our country’s European Research and Development In order to increase its integration into the field, we mutually shared our suggestions and good practice examples. We revealed our priorities in our science, technology and innovation policies. We shared the progress we have made in the field of green and digital transformation in the field of ‘Horizon Europe’ and ‘Digital Europe’. “We discussed the need to increase the synergy between the ‘Union’ programs and the ‘Pre-Accession Assistance Instrument’. Finally, we evaluated cooperation opportunities in the field of technology transfer and entrepreneurship in order to ensure the integration of our innovation eco-systems.”
Stating that the meeting they held today was also instrumental in rewarding important achievements in the country, Kacır said, “The European Innovation Council and the SME Executive Agency, jointly managed by the European Innovation and Technology Institute, emphasize the important role of women in promoting transformative change and innovation-oriented growth in the European Union. This year, Prof. Dr. Rana Sanyal from Boğaziçi University won the ‘European Women Innovators Award’ for her successful work in the field of biotechnology. This success of Mr. Sanyal, which makes us proud, shows that women are a strong voice in Turkey’s scientific research infrastructure. ” she said.
Stating that this success will make a significant contribution to the global recognition of Turkey’s talents and potential in the field of science and technology, Kacır said that another development is that TÜBİTAK’s three innovation programs in the field of innovation have become eligible to take part in the European Innovation Council Plug-in mechanism. told.
Kacır said, “In this way, companies that receive support from these programs of TUBITAK will be able to apply to the European Innovation Council Accelerator Program through TUBITAK, and this will provide great opportunities for innovative companies. In addition, as of the end of the year, one of the community centers of the European Innovation and Technology Institute will be in Turkey.” “This center will bring representation to all the calls of the institute, including thematic areas that do not have representation in Turkey.” he said.
WE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED AS COORDINATORS IN MULTIPLE PARTNER PROJECTS TO 40″
Minister Kacır expressed their aim to build Turkey as a pioneer in technology by strengthening Turkey’s R&D and innovation infrastructure step by step, in line with the national technology move.
Pointing out that they see international collaborations in science, technology and innovation as an indispensable part of this vision, Kacır said: “From this perspective, we want to participate in EU programs that offer our researchers, entrepreneurs, industrialists and SMEs the opportunity to work with their European partners and make the most of the opportunities offered by these programs.” We have determined high-level benefit as a strategic priority. The successes we have achieved in recent years in the EU Research and Innovation Programs, in which we have been actively involved since 2003, show that Turkey is among the leading stakeholders of the European research and innovation ecosystem. The actors who contribute the most to our effective use of our products in the field of research and innovation include our country’s success chart in the world’s largest civilian R&D program, Horizon Europe, from 2021 to 2021. Since then, we have provided 243 million euros in grant support to Turkey through 486 projects involving 1107 Turkish executives. In addition, we increased the number of organizations involved as coordinators in multi-partner projects to 40. “The Pre-Accession Assistance Instrument (IPA), which supports R&D, technology transfer and commercialization projects, especially green and digital transformation, with a fund size exceeding 700 million euros, plays a key role in strengthening the science, technology and innovation cooperation between the EU and Turkey.”
“We continue our efforts to ensure that Turkey takes an active part in the Digital Europe program.”
Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır reminded that Turkey participated in the Digital Europe program last year.
Kacır explained that they are continuing to work for Turkey to take an active part in the program, which will allow the EU to benefit from the infrastructures built in the field of digitalization and innovation, contribute to the digital and green transformation of SMEs in the country, and enable human capital to acquire new digital skills.
Pointing out that the Turkish industry, which has become a global production base with its research and innovation ecosystem, planned industrial areas, entrepreneurship culture and qualified human resources, continues to reinforce its strong role in the European value chain day by day, Kacır made the following evaluations:
“We always keep the twin transformation at the top of our agenda in order to maintain the competitiveness of our industry, which is a leader in Europe in many fields such as solar panels, white goods, commercial vehicles, flat glass and cement, and to realize our 2053 net zero emission target. In this context, from strategies to road maps We have implemented a proactive policy from projects to our support programs.
We have determined our strategic steps in the process of adaptation to the “European Green Deal” with the “Green Deal Action Plan” that we prepared under the coordination of our ministries.
We prepared our road maps with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and our relevant stakeholders to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the aluminum, steel, fertilizer and cement sectors, which correspond to 12.7 percent of our exports to the EU. With the ‘Sectoral Green Growth Technology Roadmaps’ designed by TÜBİTAK, we identified the technological needs of our industrial enterprises in the iron and steel, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, plastic and chemical sectors, which are of vital importance for our economy, provide basic input to many sectors and stand out in terms of carbon emissions. “
Minister Kacır, on the other hand, emphasized that they have created the financial infrastructure that will allow them to successfully realize the green transformation, and said, “With the ‘Turkey Organized Industrial Zones Project’ and ‘Turkey Green Industry Project’ that we have implemented in cooperation with the World Bank, the investments and technology development studies that our industry will carry out with a focus on green transformation “We have mobilized a financing of 750 million dollars for the project.” he said.
“REVISION OF THE CUSTOMS UNION HAS BECOME A MUST BEYOND A PREFERENCE”
Minister Kacır stated that Turkey is located in the heart of Europe with its strong R&D and technology ecosystem, qualified population and innovative entrepreneurs, and mentioned that they have developed concrete cooperation mechanisms to ensure the integration of the European and Turkish Research Area.
Emphasizing that they do not evaluate these mechanisms and programs only as the funds and financial opportunities they bring to Turkey, Kacır concluded his speech as follows: “We also see them as structures that bring together Turkish and other European stakeholders and provide opportunities for them to work together. For this reason, our Turkish researchers, engineers and It is essential that we remove artificial barriers to facilitate technology and R&D transfers for our innovative companies to work together with other Europeans. I would also like to point out that visa exemption is of critical importance for our young researchers and entrepreneurs who bring dynamism and momentum to Europe’s innovation and technology ecosystem. Taking into account the problems and developments in global trade, its revision has become an obligation rather than a choice to further the mutual trade between Turkey and the EU on the basis of common benefit. In this context, our mutual concrete initiatives and studies with our European partners will continue. “Turkey’s commitment to scientific and technological cooperation, in line with its goal of sustainable, strong, full membership with the EU, is a testament to its dedication to achieving mutual progress and common prosperity.”
743 MILLION EUROS SUPPORT FROM EU TO TURKISH RESEARCHERS IN 20 YEARS
Iliana Ivanova, EU Commission Member Responsible for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said that it was a great honor for them to meet with Minister of Industry and Technology Kacır and his team in Istanbul for their second high-level dialogue on science research, technology and innovation. .
Stating that they met today to underline the important role played by education, research and innovation, especially in supporting the green transformation, Ivanova touched upon the cooperation between the EU and Turkey in the fields of science research, technology and innovation.
Ivanova said, “In the past 20 years, researchers, scientists and innovators from Turkey have earned 743 million euros from our programs. We will establish a European Innovation Council and Technology Community Center in Turkey.” said.
Talking about the importance of Turkey’s active participation in European industrial partnerships, Ivanova explained that they can collaborate better on green transformation, industrial decarbonization and smart cities.
Stating that today’s meeting is a very important opportunity to evaluate joint efforts in the field of digital education and entrepreneurial skills, Ivanova said: “We know that we can find transformative solutions that will make the green and digital transition possible only by joining our forces in the fields of education, research and innovation. We invite researchers from the entire Turkish society to “I invite you and your innovators to actively participate in these European initiatives. Your contributions are crucial for our common future.”
Thursday, April 25, 2024
