The Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology signed contracts with 5 clusters that qualified for support in the Second Call Period of the Cluster Support Program. One of the projects that signed a contract at the ceremony was the OSTİM Renewable Energy and Environmental Technologies Cluster's project titled 'OSTİM Clean Technologies Cluster'. The cluster will carry out activities focusing on 'Product Development, Power Plant Rehabilitation, and Internationalization' with a budget of 24,826,800 TL over 5 years.
Speaking at the opening of the ceremony, Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Faruk Özlü stated that the Ministry and its affiliated organizations are carrying out very important support programs to improve industrial production both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Minister Özlü stated that with the Clustering Support Program, one of these initiatives, they aim to achieve a production and knowledge-based transformation in the manufacturing industry and increase its competitiveness. He added, “The concentration, or clustering, of firms operating in the same or complementary sectors in certain regions significantly affects the quality of production in those regions. Strengthening the link between the components of the supply chain positively impacts the entire chain. Clustering doesn't just mean physically sharing an environment. Essentially, clustering also involves sharing common knowledge and experience among all the units that make up the cluster. It requires collaboratively designing processes. In other words, a well-functioning cluster means that all the units within that cluster rise together. We launched the Clustering Support Program based on these principles.”
“We aim for a structural transformation in industry”
Faruk Özlü, explaining the program's operation, stated: “Cluster initiatives, together with the private sector, universities, and NGOs—that is, all stakeholders—create a vision and prepare a 5-year business plan. We provide a 50% grant to business plans deemed worthy of support. In other words, we cover half of the cost of the project developed by the cluster. We launched the 2nd Call for Support for the Cluster Support Program on February 27, 2015. 16 cluster collaborations applied to this call. These collaborations included 40 universities, 624 companies, 17 chambers of industry and commerce, and 47 civil society organizations. Frankly, I believe that the mobilization of such a broad base and the preparation of a project together is a great achievement in itself. Today, we are signing Support Agreements with five Cluster Initiatives that have been deemed eligible for support as a result of the evaluations. The total 5-year business plan budget of these 5 cluster initiatives is 102 million TL. As I mentioned earlier, we are providing half of this, i.e., 51 million TL.” We will cover the costs. With the Clustering Support Program, we aim to create a structural transformation in our industry.”
Özlü emphasized that they have implemented projects that will increase competitiveness, innovation, efficiency, technology level, qualified employment, and thus the country's share of world exports, adding that they have also taken into account aspects that will minimize the environmental impact of industry in these projects.
Minister Özlü provided information about the five clusters being supported, highlighting the program's importance with the following statements: “In our Istanbul-based cluster, we will establish Turkey's first modular medical device pilot production facility for young entrepreneurs in the healthcare industry. With the commissioning of model accredited laboratories that the sector can utilize jointly in Turkey, we will reduce the unit costs of biocompatibility and biomechanical testing and analysis for companies. In another project based in Yalova, we will create an important design center for the shipbuilding industry, and in our Bursa-based project, we will establish a pilot production facility for home textiles. With another project to be carried out throughout Turkey, we will rehabilitate our power plants in the energy sector using our national resources. Unfortunately, we are unable to develop the specialized materials and equipment needed by nuclear power plants. Hopefully, as a result of the support we provide, we will be able to produce these products. We will also conduct studies to develop clean technologies in the OSTİM region.”
Product Development, Power Plant Rehabilitation, Internationalization
Following Minister Faruk Özlü's speech, the clusters that received support presented their projects. OSTİM OSB Board Chairman Orhan Aydın stated the following regarding the supported project: “The OSTİM Clean Technologies Cluster is coordinated by the OSTİM Renewable Energy and Environmental Technologies Cluster; and brings together the OSTİM Organized Industrial Zone Directorate, OSTİM Foundation, OSTİM Technology Inc., TEMSAN, Ankara Chamber of Industry, Ankara Development Agency, Başkent University, Atılım University, GÜNDER, Global Energy Association, and 27 business partners.”
Our cluster's vision is to increase domestic and international market share in clean technologies and related sectors through 'continuous innovation and sustainable exports,' meeting local needs with local resources, and becoming one of the world's leading innovation and production centers for clean technologies. Our goals are to improve the competitive structure of cluster members, strengthen product quality and standards, develop new products and services by identifying strategic segments, strengthen the innovation and R&D environment, enhance cluster visibility and create a cluster brand, develop sectoral and inter-sectoral collaborations, and foster international partnerships. Together with representatives from public institutions, universities, the private sector, and civil society organizations within our cluster, we will work to produce domestic and national solutions for the energy sector and to reduce our country's dependence on foreign energy sources. We thank all our stakeholders who have walked this path with us, providing material and moral support throughout all stages of the project, starting from the application process.”
OSTİM Clean Technologies Cluster, with a budget of 24,826,800 TL over 5 years, will prioritize the development of the sector by enhancing the capacities of SMEs through its cluster support program, focusing on ‘Product Development, Power Plant Rehabilitation, and Internationalization’.
The clusters that will receive support in the second call period of the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology's Cluster Support Program are as follows: Nuclear Industry Cluster, OSTİM Clean Technologies Cluster, Sustainable Home Textile Cluster, Shipbuilding Industry Cluster, and Istanbul Health Industries Cluster.
