The 4th meeting of the Anatolian Clusters Cooperation Platform (AKIP), established to ensure cooperation and coordination among clusters and cluster initiatives in Turkey, was held at OSTİM. The meeting, where the platform's new roadmap was discussed, saw institutional participation from 41 clusters across the country.
The AKIP meeting in Ankara, where all clusters and cluster initiatives are accepted as natural members, was attended by 95 participants from ministries, development agencies, universities, industry, chambers of commerce, and cluster management. At the meeting, a 7-member Executive Board was formed to coordinate AKIP's activities in the new period.
Shared intentions and rules will be redefined.
OSTİM Foundation Director Gülnaz Karaosmanoğlu provided information about AKİP (Agricultural Clustering Platform) at the meeting, which saw institutional participation from 41 clusters across various sectors. Karaosmanoğlu outlined the platform's future goals as follows: “To raise awareness about clustering initiatives, which are a regional development model, and to disseminate and develop them in Turkey. To support the development of relationships with central and local authorities and universities, to ensure coordination between clusters and cluster initiatives, to share knowledge and experience, and to encourage and support the development of new clusters. To increase inter-cluster collaborations and partnerships, develop, present, and execute joint projects, to actively participate in international cooperation networks and platforms, and to ensure the inclusion of clusters in global value and supply chains through international promotion, and to contribute to the development and implementation of national clustering policies and support models.”
Gülnaz Karaosmanoğlu noted that since its establishment, while some clusters and cluster initiatives have concluded their work, numerous new cluster initiatives have emerged. Karaosmanoğlu stated that the goal is to redefine and implement shared intentions and rules to ensure mutual awareness and visibility of each cluster, thus moving forward together in the process.
“An important tool in increasing competitiveness”
Orhan Aydın, Chairman of the Board of Directors of OSTİM, the host of the meeting, said that clusters in Turkey, and URGE projects that define themselves as clusters, need to cooperate and join forces.
Aydın stated: "We need to create added value for our region, our companies, and our country from here. AKIP is not an organization belonging to OSTIM; it is a common platform for all our clusters and organizations. We want this platform to be sustainable. We have much to learn from each other. We believe that we need to work together and support each other these days. I think this platform is important in terms of conveying our demands and requests to the bureaucracy, the Government, and the State that govern our country."
Looking ahead, we have decided to embark on a new journey with the shared vision of advancing clusters, which are crucial tools in the development, growth, and increased competitiveness of our companies, our clusters, and our region. We thought it would be a good idea to energize each other and increase our pace.”
In the ‘Clusters and Cluster Initiatives’ session of the meeting, moderated by Prof. Dr. Cengizhan Öztürk, 40 clusters shared their presentations and projects.
Ministry representatives evaluated the clusters.
At the AKIP meeting, during the session titled ‘Public Sector Clustering Policies and Support: Developments, Information and Recommendations,’ where public sector representatives spoke, the current status of clustering activities in Turkey, existing projects, and expectations were discussed. Representatives from the Ministry of Development, the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology, and the Ministry of Economy shared their observations and statistical information regarding clusters.
“Development agencies provided support to 40 clusters”
Filiz Alsaç, an expert from the Regional Competitiveness Department of the Ministry of Development, discussed the Cluster Governance Model. Alsaç explained the model as defining the relationships between stakeholders and the tools to be used within the framework of national clustering policies. She summarized the model's main objective as: "To ensure the effective implementation of clustering policies that serve to increase competitiveness."
Filiz Alsaç also provided information regarding the cluster support provided by Development Agencies. According to her, 81 clusters were analyzed in collaboration with UNDP in 2013, and 109 clusters in 2016. To date, Development Agencies have provided technical and financial support to 40 clusters and 2,445 businesses within those clusters.
“We see no alternative to industrialization for development”
Tolga Arıcan, Head of the Cluster Policies Implementation and Coordination Branch at the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology, pointed out that conducting such studies frequently and transitioning to an effective information sharing system is very important for our country. He stated, “We need to look ahead in the long term; we must plan what we will do in 5-10 years.” Arıcan's main points were as follows: “Clusters are important in terms of production organizational structure and information flow between firms. We must increase our competitiveness. For this, we need information. It is necessary to cooperate with technoparks and universities.”
The cluster support program is one of the rare programs where many clustering projects are running simultaneously. Here, the impact of one output on another project creates a multiplier effect. Supporting projects with business plans and tangible outputs is more important. Let's not forget that competitiveness assessment is paramount.
The fundamental issue in clustering is deciding what professional steps need to be taken. I believe that AKIP can organize these efforts. I think that the infrastructure has been created with AKIP's approach.
As a ministry, we see no alternative to industrialization for a country's development. Whenever we have been contacted, whenever support has been requested from the clusters, we have always stood by them.”
“176 projects are ongoing”
Oktay Erkılıç, Export Development Specialist at the Ministry of Economy's Department of SME Cluster Support, explained that 176 projects are ongoing under the URGE program, and new applications are being received. Stating that nearly 4,200 companies have benefited from these projects, Erkılıç said, “To date, 114 projects have been completed, and 2,000 companies have benefited from them. A new circular amending the URGE circular has been published. The duration of URGE projects has been extended from 3 years to 5 years. Promotional activities have been added to the budget. Following these activities, the application period for support payments has been reduced to 3 months, and the time to complete missing documents has been reduced to 2 months.”
OPINIONS
Legal entity studies should be conducted. (Federation)
Efforts to expand AKIP (Agricultural Cooperatives for Clusters).
Continuing communication channels and collaboration meetings in depth. Holding the first meeting in Konya.
Since the legal infrastructure of clusters is in the form of associations, they can be transformed into economic enterprises.
We are experiencing a serious shortage of qualified human resources in clusters. Clusters should work effectively with the human resources of development agencies.
Clusters can undertake joint projects.
A secretariat should be established to work on business plans. Joint business plans should be developed.
Institutionalized clusters can share their experiences with new clusters.
Expanding projects will improve collaboration opportunities. The work done should be publicized.
Institutionalization is important for sustainability. There should be support projects for this.
Consultancy support can be provided within the framework of AKIP.
AKIP can take an active role in relations with state institutions.
Establishing a standard for the evaluation criteria of clusters in public support programs, etc. Recommending that necessary work be carried out within the public sector.
Bringing clusters under the auspices of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
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