This subject, the cooperation –or lack of cooperation- between academic word and industry has been extensively discussed in the last 20-25 years. Technology Development Foundation of Turkey (TTGV) was established in 1991, Research and Development Support Decree was issued in 1995. Based on this strategy a number of support formats have been developed by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBITAK), Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology, Ministry of Development, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization (KOSGEB) and various regional Development Agencies. Universities have started to establish Techno Parks (Law No: 4691, July 2001). R&D Support Law provided tax incentives for R&D Centers (Law No: 5746, Feb. 2008). Universities organized Technology Transfer Offices (TÜBİTAK support started in 2013). Even when I write these lines, a new revision of R&D Policy is on the agenda of Turkish National Assembly. But in spite of all these efforts, we must admit that we have still not reached to a level which satisfies neither industry nor academia. 

Basic reasons, I believe, are limited visions of industrial and technological structures. If a company isn’t committed to introduce any innovation/new design or if a university isn’t organized to collaborate with industry, nobody should expect any university-industry cooperation. This issue is very complicated and beyond this modest article. On the other hand I also believe that especially defense industry have some good examples and potential in this field and we can elaborate on this subject.