Yıldız Technical University Targets $3 Billion Exports from Yıldız Teknopark

YTÜ Yıldız Teknopark, which has reached USD 1 billion in R&D export figures with its infrastructure supporting entrepreneurs and investors, announced its 2025 targets. YTÜ Yıldız Teknopark General Manager Orhan Tanışman said, "Our goal is to increase export figures to USD 3 billion level as soon as possible." TechnopParks, known as centers that strengthen cooperation between universities, industry, research centers, entrepreneurs and markets, and increase knowledge and technology transfer, thereby enabling the development of high-value-added, R&D-based advanced technology products and services, continue to gain importance with developing technology trade day by day. In this context, YTÜ Yıldız Teknopark, operating under Yıldız Technical University since its establishment in 2003, announced its targets to increase R&D export figures in the short term to maintain its presence in the competitive environment on a global basis.

New targets set with "Look at Today from the Future" slogan

YTÜ Yıldız Teknopark's 2025 targets were announced at the 2025 Vision Launch Meeting held with the slogan "Look at Today from the Future" at the Historic Bath Multi-Purpose Meeting Hall of YTÜ Davutpaşa Campus. YTÜ Yıldız Teknopark, which has ranked first consecutively for three years in the Technology Development Zones Performance Index announced by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, presented its 2025 vision by General Manager Orhan Tanışman. Tanışman, stating that they aim to increase export figures to USD 3 billion in the coming years, said that they are continuing work on establishing new technology marketing offices and incubation centers internationally, launching YTÜ Schools covering all education periods from kindergarten to high school, and opening new campuses.

"We are directing Turkey's entrepreneurs to the European market"

YTÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Yılmaz, noting that YTÜ Yıldız Teknopark has visions befitting Turkey's vision and leadership in the region, said "We are directing Turkey's entrepreneurs to the European market. Our first project was conducted with KOSGEB support in Silicon Valley. If you are producing technology, you should be in the center of technology, Silicon Valley. We have been there for six years. We are moving our good and promising entrepreneurs to the Silicon Valley ecosystem, that is, the global ecosystem. We are accelerating them, we are funding them. We have begun to attract the interest of Turkish Republics. They have also made serious moves. Both Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan asked us for help in spreading this model to their own countries. With the guidance of our government, we were there and we are trying to transform that place with a good model. Because for 25 years we have transformed the Turkey ecosystem. We became an important player here; we are reflecting our experience to our region. Then we started to expand to Dubai and the African Region. Our next move will be in Europe. We will have serious initiatives in Paris and Berlin. We developed the relevant project, we have been working on it for 3 years. We are trying to direct Turkey's entrepreneurs, technology leaders, technology producers to the European market. After this, our only missing piece will probably be the Far East. Our move to the Far East will be to take Turkey's leader, entrepreneur, enthusiastic young people there. We are very happy that this task has been given to us. We carry this excitement" he said.

"We want to be Silicon Valley"

YTÜ Yıldız Teknopark General Manager Orhan Tanışman, who presented the 2025 vision and explained the targets in detail, said that Turkish Republics want to be Silicon Valley with the steps to be taken. Orhan Tanışman also said "As Turkey's number one Technopark for three consecutive years, we want to be a leader in our region as well. We have prepared our infrastructure and opened our offices in the geography from North Africa to the Middle East, from Turkish Republics to the Balkans. Work is continuing on our positions in Europe. We might also work in Paris, Brussels or Berlin. We have already been in Silicon Valley in America for 6 years. Within the scope of our work there, we also aim to bring entrepreneurs to Turkey. Actually, our goal is to be the Silicon Valley of Turkish Republics" he said.

2025 target: USD 3 billion export

Tanışman, mentioning that they aim to increase export figures to USD 3 billion by 2025, said, "Until now, we had USD 1 billion in exports. Domestically, we had TRY 13 billion in R&D revenue. In the coming years, we want to increase our export revenue to USD 3 billion level. Yes, there is the market and export part, but our essential need is capital. At this point, through our Dubai office, we have enabled global capital to invest in Turkish entrepreneurial ventures" he said. Stating that companies previously tried to struggle alone to export, Tanışman said, "As YTÜ Yıldız Teknopark, we support them and clear the way for them. Entrepreneurs who say 'I am ready to open to abroad, I have a marketable product abroad' go through a pre-selection process, and then, with our Ministry's incentives and using all our capabilities to the fullest, we want to increase the capacity here by another USD 2 billion and bring it to USD 3 billion level within the next 3 years. We currently have more than 500 companies. This number of companies will increase further. What is important is to bring our country to an important position in global competition in terms of technology" he said.

New campuses will be built

Saying that due to increasing growth rates each year, they will open new campuses and a technopark for more leasable space, Tanışman said, "We have a total of 85,000 square meters of leasable space, but we could lease an additional 35,000 square meters of space if available. Based on this, our leasing work is ongoing in Maslak. If we can secure the lease, we can create a capacity of 20,000 square meters. Besides this, we have another plot of land in Maslak. We want to build a 40,000 square meter technopark there as well. There is a growth of more than 10 percent each year. We need to reach the square meters to meet this growth." he said.

'YTÜ Schools' project from kindergarten to university is being implemented

Expressing that another topic they are excited about is the YTÜ Schools project, which is not limited only to university but covers all education periods, Tanışman said, "We are a university technopark. However, not only raising human resources at university, but also raising children who will gravitate towards technology starting from kindergarten, we are implementing the YTÜ Schools project. Our licensing work is ongoing. If we can manage, we will open our primary school this September. We want to build YTÜ Schools consisting of primary, secondary and high school on Davutpaşa campus by our Republic's 100th anniversary. We will have a capacity of around 1,000 students in total" he said.

"The real goal is global competition"

Finally, stating that there are no obstacles in front of them to achieve a leading position, Tanışman said, "Size is a relative concept. When viewed within the context of our country's goals, if our country is to enter the top 10 of world economies, we also need to be there. That is, we need to set goals parallel to our country's goals. We have started this journey, this is an ambitious journey. But we know that both our companies, our government and our university will give us more than enough support on this matter. Therefore, we think our 2025 targets will be achieved in much shorter time. Therefore, there is no reason why we should not be a leader in the region. The real goal is global competition" he concluded his remarks.

Companies will have opportunity to increase capacity through "Segmentation Project"

At the launch, the results of the Segmentation Project, which was implemented by YTÜ Yıldız Teknopark in cooperation with PwC Turkey and was carried out to establish support mechanisms that will increase the capacity of companies located in the Technopark, were also announced. In the study, awards were presented to companies that achieved successful results. Award-winning companies were listed as follows: Export North Star: Etiya Bilgi Teknolojileri Yazılım Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. Most Corporate North Star: SNI Teknoloji Hizmetleri Intellectual Property North Star: Neutec Ar-Ge Fastest Exit North Star: Finartz Bilgi Teknolojileri Corporate R&D North Star: Mobven Teknoloji Most Innovative North Star: I2I Bilişim Danışmanlık Teknoloji Hizmetleri ve Pazarlama Highest Project Revenue per Employee North Star: Bayraktar Teknoloji ve Bilişim Sistemleri   Source