Defence Industry Firms Meet in the II TSSK Project Market
Hosted by METU and METU Teknokent and under the leadership of the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM), the II Project Market of the Teknokent Defence Industry (TSSK) that took place at the METU Culture Convention Centre and which brought together many defence industry firms aims to expand the relations between large, medium and small-scale firms in the industry thereby for them to sign more contracts, to use existing resources and to plan correctly the new investments to take place.
The activity which saw SMEs introduce projects that were completely domestically developed defence industry products and which produce high technology solutions was met with great interest by participants. While the number of total registered participants was 300, another 350 individuals visited the activity. Aside from 29 firms from the METU Teknokent and TSSK, the main contractors in the sector Aselsan, Havelsan, Roketsan, TAI and FNSS as well as Bilkent Cyberpark, Gazi Teknopark and Hacettepe Teknopark also participated. The OSSA Defence and Aerospace Clustering, the Eskişehir Aerospace Clustering and the Aerospace and Aviation Clustering located in Izmir found the opportunity to introduce their companies with a stand at the activity that took place. With the co-operation meetings that took place with the stands, firms attending the TSSK II Project Market activity had the opportunity to meet each other.
Speaking at the opening of the gathering, METU Vice Rector Prof. Volkan Atalay touched on the importance of clustering by stating that the slogan, ‘Think Global, Act Global’ is a valid slogan today and mentioned the importance of clustering. On the structure of clustering Atalay said, “In order to undertake a global action we are involved in a local movement and we are trying to create this through local unity.” Atalay mentioned that clustering increased the awareness in opportunities and in a globalised world being close to information is important in the easy access to that information. Continuing his remarks by mentioning the well-known clusterings in the world Atalay gave examples of the most well-known clusterings such as Silicon Valley and Cambridge. Mentioning that in the METU Teknokent clustering there were 73 firms at the present time, Atalay added that they could receive support for strengthening international competition from the Ministry of Economy.
The General Secretary of the Ankara Chamber of Industry Yavuz Cabbar, stating that they had reached an 8 billion dollar export figure in 2013, mentioned that Ankara had become a defence industry city in advanced technology. Cabbar sad that among the cities that benefitted the most from public sector support was Ankara and indicating that Ankara had new graduate entrepreneur youth and said that in order to continue the visibility all of this must be carried on to a web-based platform. Cabbar added that that this work in particular was necessary in terms of the sustainability of industrialisation Cabbar emphasized that the most experienced city on clustering was Ankara and emphasized that these clusterings would be more effective in the future in carrying industry further ahead.
Deputy Undersecretary for Defence Industries Sedat Güldoğan in his remarks at the gathering said that the most important emphasis in the 2012-2016 Strategy Plan issued by the Undersecretariat under the slogan ‘Technological Superiority’ was two main clusters and that one of these was the sustainability of industry and the other the spreading of technological competence. Mentioning that these projects carried major importance in this plan, Güldoğan said that they assisted in the development of this strategy and said, “Since 2011 we are following the 30 percent SME participation in the supply industry and in the last one to two years the supply industry SME sales increased by 30 percent. We think that the ‘Industry Participation – Offset Guide’ that came into effect in 2011 has an effect on this as well.” In continuing his remarks Sedat Güldoğan said that through a portal they had development they were able to follow the sales increase of SMEs.
Oğuz Şener, Chairman of the Aselsan Technology High Board of Directors, indicated that the supply industry and co-operation with universities were subjects that Aselsan gave importance to and mentioned that, in terms of giving an idea, they worked with approximately 400 local sub-contractors. Stating that the total order to SMEs and sub-contractors up to now was 1.25 billion USD and the 2012 figure was 210 million USD in payment, Şener emphasized that aside from this that they worked closely with many universities and implemented many projects. Şener said, “As Aselsan we use the opportunities provided by METU more easily that the firms that are here but in reality it must be easier for firms to reach them and to use their infrastructure” and added, that this issue can be solved through joint effort.
FSNN Public Relations Co-ordinator Cem Altınışık, started his remarks by providing a general description of FNSS’ activities and that they had focused on developing design with their own resources and provided information on their land platforms to the participants and added that the land vehicles they had developed up to now were used in many geographies throughout the globe and emphasized that on this subject they had accomplished a considerable headway.
Mustafa Egeli, Director, Procurement and Contracts of Havelsan in his presentation started with a general introduction on Havelsan. Indicating that with the capabilities they had acquired they had signed off on important projects overseas, Egeli while illustrating these projects gave the example of Korea. In addition, Egeli gave information on the organisation of the purchasing and contract directorate for sub-contractors that wish to work with Havelsan for the first time. Indicating that 2013 had been a very successful year for Havelsan, Egeli said that total sales had reached 565 million Turkish Liras and that 30 percent of this figure was exports.
The sub-contractor manager of Roketsan Şule Arıtaş started her speech by providing information n the mission and vision of Roketsan. Mentioning that the primary target of Roketsan was to meet the needs of the TSK their secondary aim was to export to friendly and allied countries. Outlining the projects being implemented and completed with Teknokent firms, Arıtaş gave examples on the ‘Firing control unit design and production’ and the ‘Power distribution unit design and production.’
Head of TAI Aircraft Group Özcan Ertem in his presentation provided information to the participant on the Opposition Aircraft Project. Ertem indicated that the conceptual design of the aircraft in this project had been completed and that this aircraft would take the place of the F16s in the future. What they wanted said Ertem was for this aircraft to find the solution and that in terms of needs the written air vehicle requirements was written in the 4th Version of the Operational Requirements Document. Within the framework of the project, 1 pair of 2 single engine aircraft was designed added Ertem and went on to add that within 2 years they had undertaken the conceptual design and models and that these 2 aircraft would meet 95 percent of the needs of the Air Force.
After providing an introductions on the sub-contractor requirements of the main contracting firms, their business potential and the technological areas of purchases made or to be made as well as the current short, medium and long term projects, SME, R&D and innovation capabilities and product and competency were mentioned in short presentations. Activities continued with collaboration meetings at company stands where firms obtained close-hand information of other firms.
The defence industry firms that are members of the TSSK by developing their relations with small, medium and large scale firms obtaining more projects and the correct use of existing resources has the aim of the right planning in the investments to be realised. Starting from this objective, the TSSK Project Market will henceforth take place each year, which will allow the METU Teknokent Defence Industry Clustering companies to meet one another as well as the principal contracting firms while providing the opportunity to increase their joint development and collaboration.
