Contract Signing Ceremony for the Rotary Wing Technology Center (DKTM) Project
The Rotary Wing Technology Center (DKTM) Projects’ Contract signing ceremony was held at TAI’s facilities in Kazan, Ankara on 22 December 2014, particularly with the participation of the Undersecretary for Defence Industries Prof İsmail Demir, TAI’s President & CEO Mr. Muharrem Dörtkaşlı and chancellors and vice-chancellors of many universities.
In his speech at the ceremony, TAI’s President & CEO Mr. Muharrem Dörtkaşlı stated that they aimed that the Rotary Wing Technology Center established at TAI Teknokent location in order to develop the cooperation between the University and the Industry while training the human resources required by the sector to consist of a structure that researches the new technologies that would create a difference in TAI’s products in helicopter technologies and mobilizes the research potential existing in universities with the help of the flexibility and dynamism of the Industry.
Undersecretary for Defence Industries Prof. İsmail Demir mentioned in his speech that with the DKTM achieving its objectives, a significant part of the requirements regarding helicopter development sector would be covered and added, “Without any hesitation, the projects of this center to be launched today following their signings, which are said to be one of the most comprehensive and incompatible applications within the scope of the technology acquisition obligation activities currently executed within our Undersecretariat for Defence Industries, shall be taking firm steps towards achieving their purposes”.
The Rotary Wing Technology Center (DKTM) was established at TAI’s facilities at ODTÜ Teknokent within the scope of the Indigenous Helicopter Development Program Agreement signed on 26 June 2013 between the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) and Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI). DKTM aims to research and acquire the future technologies regarding the helicopters, develop university-industry cooperation and contribute to the qualified human resources in helicopter technologies in the long run.
Pre-applications for the projects prepared in line with the principles and procedures announced at SSM/TAI websites on February 2014 were examined by the experts of SSM and TAI. The evaluation of the project pre-applications were based on their contribution to the existing state of technology, the extent of this contribution (innovative, supportive, nationalizing, etc.), their applicability, on the aspects of budget, human resources and time schedules and on whether or not they could be launched with their current status. Consequently, it was determined to sign contracts with 6 projects at the initial stage. Within the scope of the determined focus of research, the contracts regarding the remaining project pre-applications, the negotiations of which are continuing for improving their setups or for uniting a couple of projects, are intended to be accomplished within the first months of 2015. Over 30 academicians and researchers from 7 different universities are expected to be assigned at the launch of the projects.
