The development of our country and its approach to 2023 targets pass through increasing production and exports. In the manufacturing industry, quality of products, product diversity, innovative and cost-reducing alternative solutions are of great importance, especially for the paint and coating industry.
Under the auspices of the Ministry of Economy, in the Dye and Raw Materials Sector Development Workshop 2015-2023 Targets-Strategies Final Report prepared by Istanbul Chemicals and Chemical Exporters Association and Dye Industrialists Association in 2012; product diversity, high installed capacity, importance given to R&D and innovation, human health and environment-sensitive, advanced technology infrastructure is identified as being the weaknesses of the import of paint raw materials from abroad, lack of intermediate staff, the sector consists of small enterprises and financing problems, inadequate market controls of product standards were expressed. In the same report; issues such as the increase in social consumption level, the dynamic structure of the construction sector and the development of the construction sector and the increase in paint consumption due to the legislative changes regarding the insulation were considered as opportunities.
In this context; the innovation-based R&D and alternative raw material works that reduce dependence on foreign sources, which can be expressed as innovation that creates added value, are seen as very important for the sector. Academic support to these issues through public-private cooperation, industry-oriented master’s and doctoral thesis studies on raw material R&D, encouraging universities to develop innovative products and transfer them to industry; increasing the cooperation through technology transfer offices is the first solutions that come to mind.
Today, it is important to contribute to the transformation of technology-based scientific knowledge in the universities into economic value by transferring it to the industry and to provide companies with mutual trust and sustainable cooperation between academicians and industrialists at the university.
The importance to be given to R&D and innovation in the paint and coating sector will mean that our country contributes to a stronger competition with Europe in this field and that our social welfare level will rise.
Prof. Dr. Öner Yusuf Toraman
Nigde Omer Halisdemir University
Department of Mining Engineering Public-University-Industry Cooperation Provincial Coordinator
