TurkStat Releases 2020 Biotechnology Statistics

Turkchem 05 Nov 2021 71 3 dk okuma

TURKCHEM

Biotechnology statistics, announced by Turkish Statistical Institute. Accordingly; the number of enterprises operating in the biotechnology field reached 499 last year. Enterprises conducting biotechnology activities allocated TRY 417.6 million to R&D expenditures last year. During the same period, 2,753 people worked in this field last year. While the number of enterprises conducting biotechnology activities in Turkey in 2020 rose to 499, the amount allocated by these enterprises to R&D expenditures reached TRY 417.6 million.

TÜİK announces 2020 biotechnology statistics

Accordingly, the number of enterprises in Turkey last year that used biotechnology in their products or services or conducted biotechnology R&D activities was determined to be 499. This figure was 363 in 2019. When the number of employees in enterprises in this field was examined by size group; 369 enterprises with 1-9 employees and 67 enterprises with 10-49 employees were identified. 37 enterprises with 50-249 employees and 26 enterprises with 250 or more employees conducted biotechnology activities.

"DNA/RNA" was the most commonly used technique

The most commonly used technique by enterprises conducting biotechnology activities last year in this field was "DNA/RNA". The number of enterprises using this technique was determined to be 261. This technique was followed by "process biotechnology techniques" used by 155 enterprises and "cell and tissue culture engineering" techniques used by 139 enterprises. When applications were examined, in 2020, 41.3% of enterprises conducting biotechnology activities focused on human health (other therapeutics, artificial substrates, diagnostic and drug delivery systems, etc.), 32.9% on agricultural biotechnology and 24% on human health (using rDNA technology).

302 enterprises have biotechnology products

The number of enterprises with biotechnology products on the market was 302 in 2020. Of the enterprises declaring that they conduct biotechnology activities, 454 were currently developing goods or services requiring the use of biotechnology, 426 were currently developing processes requiring the use of biotechnology, and 415 were enterprises viewing biotechnology as central to the enterprise's activities or strategies. The R&D expenditures realized by enterprises in 2020 amounted to TRY 417,560,618. This expenditure was TRY 324,462,031 in the previous year. The share of biotechnology R&D expenditures in the R&D expenditures of financial and non-financial companies was 1.1% in 2019, while this ratio was recorded as 1.17% in 2020.

16.2% of employees hold doctoral degrees

While 2,753 people worked in biotechnology activities last year, 47.7% of employees were male and 52.3% were female. 16.2% of employees held doctoral degrees, 22.2% held master's degrees, 36.4% held bachelor's degrees, 7.3% held higher vocational diplomas and 17.9% had high school or lower level education. The number of employees in biotechnology activities in full-time equivalent terms was 2,228. According to enterprises conducting biotechnology activities; the most important barrier ahead of biotechnology R&D activities was "access to capital" at 60.9%, followed by "access to qualified human resources" at 49.7% and "legal regulatory requirements" at 34.3%. The biggest barrier to the commercialization of biotechnology products was "access to international markets" at 57.5% and "legal regulatory requirements" at 53.9%, followed by "access to capital" at 53.5%. ANKARA (AA)

What is biotechnology?

Biotechnology has significant potential in various fields. Work conducted with cells and tissues to develop plants, animals and microorganisms through genes is referred to as biotechnology. Studies conducted on the DNA of plants, animals and microorganisms in many scientific disciplines are generally linked with biotechnology. Thus, substances that are produced in small quantities or not produced at all are brought to life and can be used in different fields.