A Bridge Between Global Companies with SMES: Eskişehir Aviation Cluster
In order to form the future of the aviation sector that is of vital importance for the Eskişehir industry and to direct the studies related to this subject and as a result of the efforts under the leadership of Eskişehir Chamber of Commerce (ESO), we estblished the “Eskişehir Aviation Cluster Association” in March 2011.
Our Association’s founding members are; Eskişehir Chamber of Commerce, Anadolu University, Tusaş Engine Industries Inc. (TEI), Alp Aviation Industry and Trade Inc., Savronik Electronic Industry and Trade Inc., Coşkunöz Defence and Aviation Industry Trade Inc., Aycan Machinery Consultancy Services Industry and Trade Limited Company, EJS Eskisehir Wheel and Machinery Industry Trade Inc., and Nümerik Machine Engineering Cast Industry and Trade Limited Company.
If we evaluate the major dynamics that encouraged the establishment of such a structure; Turkey’s Defence and aviation industry is going through most important developments that are in parallel with the economic developments in the world. The number of THY’s passengers are ever-increasing while a master plan is being prepared for new airplane purchases. Besides the civil aviation sector, brand new projects regarding military aviation contribute to the development of our country’s aviation sector. We come across the execution of planned and systematic activities within every area under the guidance of the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries’ strategic plan that is in line with our country’s needs and we express with great pleasure that today our Defence industry has reached to the stage of domestic indigenous product development.
Therefore, there exists a significant market in world’s aviation sector for the upcoming period. Our country’s share in this market will be formed based on the preparedness of our infrastructure and the coordination between the industry-university-scientific institutions and the authorities. This issue bears a great strategic importance which is beyond getting shares from the market.
Moving onto the case in Eskişehir; Eskişehir is a natural aviation city. The very first Aircraft Factory (originally named as “Tayyare Fabrikası” and Air Supply Maintenance Center presently) established in 1926 could be considered within top 5 amongst its kind in the world with its capabilities and capacity. The branch of Turkish Air Association founded in İnönü in 1936 played an important role in the formation of the aviation infrastructure in Eskişehir. With the following establishment of Defence and aviation companies in the city and formation of a sub-industry network, Eskişehir gained a fundamental role and infrastructure in aviation.
We envisage that the Aviation Cluster formed within this infrastructure shall function greatly in increasing the cooperation and coordination between the companies operating in Defence and aviation fields that hold a great share amongst city’s economic indicators. The national market and work share obtained from the world aviation sector and providing the strategic integration in the activities based on quality in respect of technologic development, timely deliveries and competitive prices are without doubt considered as milestones in the progress of Eskişehir’s aviation sector.
As a role model for the cooperation between various institutions, the Association’s aim is to “Organize cluster organizations, promote R&D studies, innovation and entrepreneurship, establish cooperation networks among the actors, facilitate cluster establishment activities, improve the cluster basis, cultural, professional, technical, commercial, economic, legal and administrational cooperation, solidarity and know-how transfer among its members, gather the real and legal bodies engaged in manufacturing industry and sales under a single roof, protect the joint interests and provide the machinery, equipment and raw material they need and enable them to find ready market.”
Our main goal within the scope of this Cluster with the ever-increasing number of members is to obtain more shares of work in the aviation sector and improve the level of Eskişehir industry’s quality in respect of systematic and technologic infrastructure thus increasing its competitiveness in international markets. As a result of the awareness we shall create in this respect, we plan to form synergy acting together with the similar aviation clusters in Turkey and to introduce our industry, Eskişehir and Eskişehir Aviation Cluster through cooperation with the other aviation clusters in the world and thus increase our potential for business development. With the help of this Cluster, we shall be enabling our industry to benefit from governmental incentives that greatly contribute to our sector.
We would like to thank and wish success to all the companies to perform in line with this process for their efforts in cooperation and integration and for their contribution to the aforementioned goals both in national and local level.
