ODTU Teknokent, as the Most Innovative and Mature Technology Park in Turkey
Defence Turkey: Mr. Mustafa İhsan Kızıltaş, please accept our very special thanks for your time to answer our questions. As a start, would you please tell us about ODTU Teknokent in terms of the activities and projects being carried out?
ODTU Teknokent is the first, most innovative, most "mature" and the biggest technology park in Turkey. So far, we are trying to support the creation of synergy between industry, university and public institutions through infrastructural/structural opportunities developed for academicians, researchers and companies using/producing technology. Combining our university’s (Middle East Technical University - METU) research capacity and know-how with the innovative capacity of entrepreneurs, we have created a momentum in Turkey’s technology accumulation; ODTU Teknokent has become a successful model with its management experiences and projects for the formation of both the legal frame and the development of other technology parks in Turkey.
We have reached a scale of around 300 firms, %50 of which are started-up in ODTÜ Teknokent, employing more than 4000 personnel and carrying out R&D activities in more than 100.000 m2 closed area, for 10 years with only using our own resources. We are aiming to become one of the world’s leading technology parks in 10 years time.
ODTU Teknokent, as the most innovative and mature technology park in Turkey, is influenced by policy makers (Ankara Chamber of Industry, Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology, Kosgeb-Small and Medium Enterprise Development Organization of Turkey, Undersecretariat for Defence Industry of Turkey-policy maker and major purchaser of defence industry, Industrial Zones in Ankara) of Turkey via its board and high advisory board and influencing them in its area of concerns; innovation and related policies, high-technology companies, start-up-spin-off companies, technology parks, clusters, etc.)
In accordance with the prioritized areas of METU, we are focusing on ICT- Telecommunication, High-tech Consumer Electronics, Life Sciences , and of course on Defence Industry. We are trying to develop new policies and supporting programs in these areas by hosting the largest companies of Turkey to share their know-how and projects with the smaller companies. This model provides the smaller ones the chance to develop deeper know-how in very specific areas and the larger companies to become more innovative and to be more flexible and avoid being oversized.
In general, our policy is to create clusters by developing incubation programs and/or environments around anchor companies; key players of the international market, and place smaller, flexible, capable SME’s around these companies which is a model already in use for the defence industry.
Within the frame of our strategic plan, we are working hard to encourage techno-preneurship, facilitate university-industry convergence, create synergy between companies and increase internationalization of our companies. Business Plan Contest (www.yfyi.info), Accelerator (TeknoJump), Technology Transfer Office (www.metutech-tto.org), Pre-incubation Centre for Digital Gaming (www.metutech-atom.org) and Association for Business Angels Network (www.metutechban.org) are major components of this quest.
Under these programs, ODTU Teknokent is giving a chance to transform new ideas to business. These programs are supporting mechanisms for sustainability of technology parks with new start up-spin off companies. As can be seen from the success rate in Silicon Valley (7%) surviving in sectors covering new technologies is quite a challenge. Technology based companies and innovative ideas shall be very carefully examined and then the selected ones shall be strongly supported. ODTU Teknokent, knowing the value of innovation, is making this selection with its specialized and experienced personnel and with the help of the professionals in its portfolio.
Moreover, we are still improving our capabilities and capacities and trying to reinforce our ecosystem. With this aim we are trying to develop new programs. The first program on which we are curently working is the integration of university students to the business life. The program will be launched in a few months and be based on transferring small projects coming from the companies to the student project office where project managers are going to coordinate trainees.
Defence Turkey: You have mentioned a model for the defence industry, would you please provide some details of this model? What was aimed with the creation of such a specialized synergy within ODTU Teknokent?
There exists a region within ODTU Teknokent which is specially designed to meet the requirements of the defence industry. ODTU Teknokent Defence Industry Research and Technological Development Region (SATGEB), established as a subregion within ODTU Teknokent, is a private region that can meet the necessity of secrecy and security of defence industry and was established in an open area of 40.000 m2.
SATGEB aims to bring together important defence industry firms (Aselsan, TAI, Havelsan) so as to enhance the collaboration of public institutions, university, Turkish Armed Forces. Thus SATGEB is a technology production center for national defence and it supports the production of defence technologies that have to be nationalized.
We are hosting more than 70 companies which perform R&D projects for defence industry. The companies are generally specialized on electronics and information technologies. ODTU Teknokent is a center of attraction for defence industry companies since we have a subregion comprising of R&D departments of Turkey’s largest defence industry companies such as ASELSAN, HAVELSAN and TAI. Existence of these main contractors gives a great opportunity for smaller companies located in our region.
Defence Turkey: How do you facilitate defence companies to work together?
ODTU Teknokent is privileged for being the host for Turkey’s renowned defence industry companies. As I mentioned before, there exist more than 70 defence companies specialized on electronics and information technologies. SATGEB Region hosts R&D departments of well known Turkish defence industry companies such as ASELSAN, HAVELSAN and TAI, thus providing a valuable physical privilege that facilitates synergy and formation of clusters.
Within the frame our strategic plan, we are working hard to create an environment where member companies find opportunities to work together. In order to realize the objectives, we established a cluster called Teknokent Defence Industry Cluster (TSSK) in 2010.
TSSK, as the most effective cluster in Turkish Defence Industry, brings ODTU Teknokent defence industry companies together and creates an environment where they can share their know-how, future projects, needs, problems etc. The objectives of TSSK can be summarized as increasing the recognition of our defence industry companies, improving the capabilities of these companies, increasing the cooperation and communication among its members, determining and defining investment areas, facilitating internationalization, and providing the necessary environment which will help to use military solutions for civil needs.
Defence Turkey: Are there any other points that you would like to mention to the readers of Defence Turkey?
As Turkey, if we want to become one of the leading economies in the world, we have to focus on R&D and innovation, therefore we should increase university-industry colloboration, create synergy between companies and we should establish ecosystems which enables the establishment of globally succesful technology companies.
