Teknokent Defence Industry Cluster
In the light of SSM’s new strategic plan for 2012-2016, one of the primary strategic goals is to provide high level competency in defense and security technologies that will enable Turkish Armed Forces to be ready for the future battlefield conditions. In order to reach this strategic purpose, it is imperative that we should focus in establishing and expanding a high technology base for Turkish defense sector. Another strategic goal forthis new strategy is to increase the level of contribution of SMEs, R&D institutions and universities to the Turkish defense industry To this end, SSM and Turkish Armed Forces have initiated various local product development and modernization programs.
These efforts have been realized in order to expand the existing defense industry capabilities in Turkey. Yet, much more synergy, cooperation on both vertical and horizontal integration is needed between SMEs that are doing research and development, the R&D institutions, universities and the major contractors in Turkish defense industry to achieve the above mentioned strategic goals. Clustering among these SMEs and R&D institutions is an important vehicle to integrate them into the Turkish defense sector.
Middle East Technical University (METU) technology and science park, ODTU Teknokent, of Ankara, Turkey is one of the leading technoparks in the country and has initiated the defense industry cluster, namely Teknokent Defense Industry Cluster, as of the end of 2010. ODTU Teknokent holds more than 70 defense industry companies doing R&D. These companies have complementary vertical expertise that provide added value to each other’s capability and are developing new products and services for defense and security.
The cluster’s mission is to provide added value to generate more synergy and cooperation among its members, with universities for applied research in defense sector, and with major contractors. The ultimate goal is to position Turkish defence industry as a significant player in the world market through high technology solutions, products and services.
Teknokent Defence Industry Cluster entails companies operating in the fields of manned and unmanned vehicles; energetic materials, advanced materials, CBRN technologies, protective vehicle and material technologies; human-machine interface; cryptography, coding and encryption, electronic intelligence systems; modeling and simulation, simulation systems; communication, electronic and information systems; sensors and electronic systems, datalink technologies as well as the various related engineering services such as testing, calibration, modeling and maintenance.
Offset is a powerful tool for establishing international cooperation. The companies that produce high value added solutions, products and services with high technology are considered to be the most efficient options for cooperation through offset. Owing to the merits that are mentioned about Teknokent Defence Industry Cluster (TSSK) companies, and the fact that ODTU Teknokent is one of the key actors of technological development in our nation, TSSK cluster is considered to be one of the most significant strategic partners of SSM.
