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The Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit kindly attended the opening ceremony of METU-HALICI Software, Turkey's first "technopolis" investment.
The ceremony on 8 October 2001 started with the opening speeches of Prof. Ural Akbulut the President of METU, and Mr Emrehan Halici.
Alongside Mr Ecevit, other attendees at the ceremony included Mr Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of ANAP, Minister of State and Deputy Prime Minister; Ms Rahsan Ecevit, the deputy leader of DSP; Mr Sumer Oral, Minister of Finance; Mr Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mr Nejat Arseven, Minister of State; Mr Metin Bostancioglu, Minister of Education and other honourable members of the parliament.
Başbakan Sayın BÜLENT ECEVİT'in Yaptığı Konuşma
Dear President of METU, dear professors, guests, and students,
I have found the speeches of Professor Akbulut and Mr Halici deeply interesting. The remarks Mr Halici has made about human beings and technology have particularly been enlightening. I congratulate them both on this successful project.
Today, I am honoured to be attending the opening ceremony of METU-HALICI Software at Middle East Technical University Technopolis.
This is a big step towards transforming Turkey into an Information Society, a step which will connect science, information and technology to industry and make them work harmoniously together. Technological advancement in the country relies on increasing productivity and the quality of the products, and decreasing the costs of production. This can only be achieved through a collaboration between the university and the industry, and through improved R&D practices.
One of the preconditions of being successful at global competition is to turn the brain power and infrastructural facilities of universities into economic assets. This is why Technopolises and Technology Development Zones were established and R&D practices were given priority in developed countries. Now it is high time we caught up by establishing more technopolises after this very first one at METU.
We as a country need to support R&D, information technologies and software production. With this purpose, my government has passed the Technology Development Zones Law, which provides 5-year tax exemption to R&D and software production companies and allows academic staff to work and be company partners in these Zones.
The Informatics Council that is to convene between 10-12 April 2002 will be a good opportunity to identify plans and strategies about these issues. Taking this opportunity will facilitate our full membership at the EU as well.
I trust that all related persons will attend this event where the structural arrangements and steps needed to become an Information Society and to materialize the e-Turkey project will be considered. Thank you.
Projeyi Başlatan ve Hayata Geçiren Sayın EMREHAN HALICI'nın Yaptığı Konuşma
Ladies and gentlemen, it is a great pleasure to be with you at METU-HALICI Software opening ceremony today.
I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the materialization of a dream that we had, particularly Professor Akbulut, the president of METU; Professor Sevuk, the former president; the honourable administrators of the university and the METU Foundation; and Ms Semra Teber, our architect.
I am also indebted to Mr Bulent Ecevit, the Prime Minister; Mr Mesut Yilmaz and Devlet Bahceli, deputy Prime Ministers; all ministers of the government; all political parties and MPs in the Parliament; and last but not least, Mr Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu, the Minister of Industry and Commerce for the invaluable support they have given to the informatics sector, to the collaboration between universities and industry and to the technopolis.
This project is about information and technology. It is a model project for the Information Society. However, the road we need to travel is not without its risks and dangers. As technology develops and becomes more widespread, the interaction between human beings and machinery tends to reverse. The object and the subject almost shift roles. While most of us yearn for an electronic world with the hope that it will bring better standards, more happiness and independence, some of us are knowingly or unknowingly making humans the slaves of the e-world. Virtual worlds get designed instead of reality and while we strive for developing more humanlike computers, machinery and robots, we unfortunately end up resembling them more and more. We have come to be human beings that think like computers and perceive the world in either black or white, discarding all other shades. Mechanical, robot-like human beings...
Despite the size of knowledge in our brains, our happiness and peace will always be under threat so long as there is no love left in our hearts.
The contribution of universities to technopolises will not be limited to information and technology; indeed, social contribution will be noteworthy as well. A social atmosphere which forever questions and emphasizes individual, national, global responsibilities and ethical values can stop us from doing wrong and protect us from the threats I have mentioned.
I am a METU alumnus myself. I am well aware that educators at this university aim to instil some values in us:
They instil in us curiosity, research, and independent questioning,
They instil in us debate and negotiation, competition and cooperation,
They instil in us respect for humans, the nature and laws,
They instil in us a love for information and technology, but they also emphasize the fact that these two exist for human beings,
They instil in us thinking, taking initiative, and pride.
We are greatly indebted to this university.
I see METU-HALICI Software as a minute attempt to pay back this debt. My colleagues now have a new target to meet, which is to get our share from the global informatics and software market and to bring economic benefits to the country.
Dear Prime Minister, ladies and gentlemen, I am confident that with your support, we will reach this aim in due time. I salute you all with love and respect.
ODTÜ Rektörü Sayın Prof.URAL AKBULUT'un Açılış Töreninde Yaptığı Konuşma
Dear Prime Minister and his ministers,
Honourable guests and members of the Press,
I would like to welcome you all to this important event; the official opening ceremony of the very first Technopolis investment in our country, METU-HALICI Software.
The main aims of Technopolises are to support the establishment and the growth of firms which use and produce high technology, and to raise the competitive power of the country by ensuring technological development. To reach these aims, it is necessary to support the R&D efforts of Technopolis companies and to maximize the cooperation between universities and the industry.
The Technopolis at METU will allow academic studies to turn into economic assets and thus contribute to the economic development in the country. The Technopolis will make it possible for software and R&D companies to make use of the university's laboratories and research infrastructure, social and cultural facilities.
The beginnings of the Silicon Valley phenomenon in the United States date back to the very first research park established by Stanford university in 1956. Science parks, centers and technopolises in Europe started in the 70s while those in the Far East did so in the 80s. These institutions support the establishment and growth of companies and thus ensure technological development and competitive economic power in the international arena.
This year, with the help of the government, the Technology Development Zones Law No. 4691 was passed on 26 June 2001, which was a positive step for the country.
In this context, I am deeply grateful to Mr Prime Minister, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Planning-Budget and Industry Commissions of the Great National Assembly of Turkey, and our current government for speeding up the law and I also thank the members of the Great National Assembly for voting and accepting it.
The initial Technopolis project studies started at our university in 1987 and were followed by the introduction of this notion to the public and pre-feasibility studies. As a result of these, METU-KOSGEB Technology Development Center, known as METU-TEKMER, was founded in 1992.
These studies gained acceleration from 1995 onwards, feasibility studies were completed and METU-Technopolis project got started.
In 1998, our university took permission from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to establish METU-Technopolis and we started constructing the very first R&D building in those days.
Meanwhile in 1996, Halıcı Group constructed their own building on the future Technopolis land. I would like to thank Mr Emrehan Halici for believing in this project and joining in, without the slightest economic consideration, before preparations for the Technopolis Law even started.
Last year on 3 June, we proudly opened the METU-Technopolis Twin Buildings which was the first Technopolis R&D unit. Today, with the opening of METU-Halici Software, Turkey's first Technopolis investment, our university is taking another step on the long road from the incubator towards the Technopolis. I hope the number of high-quality Technopolises in Turkey increases quickly.
With METU-Halici Software and METU Twin R&D Buildings, METU-Technopolis has reached 100% occupation rate on 12,000 m² R&D area and 33 companies.
Upon popular demand, we are planning to lay the foundation for a new R&D building with nearly 10,000 m² indoors area.
We have also started research and architectural projecting of the Museum of Science and Technology which we are planning to set up in the Technopolis. The Museum is being projected together with an Open Air Museum, Lagoon and Botanical Park, and is intended to emphasize the relationship between technology and nature. It will be divided into thematic sub-groups and science and technology from 3500 BC to today will be presented to the public. The Museum, whose collection we have already started to acquire, will be a valuable gift for future generations and, needless to say, it will benefit greatly from your support.
The METU Technopolis will be located on a land of 70 hectares with 200,000 m² indoors area. When it is complete, it will be a science park accommodating over 4,000 researchers.
Apart from software, other potential technologies and sectors on the Technopolis will include electronics, telecommunications, defence, chemistry, biotechnology, automotive, machinery, food and textile industries.
The synergy that will be created as a result of new R&D companies on the Technopolis will give other companies an opportunity to improve and compete.
With the METU Technopolis, our country will no longer be just a spectator of scientific and technological innovations; on the contrary, we will reach the level of contribution and production.
In closing, may I wish METU Halici Software and METU Technopolis a great success.
Sanayi ve Ticaret Bakanı Sayın A. KENAN TANRIKULU'nun Açılış Töreninde Yaptığı Konuşma
Dear Prime Minister, dear guests and members of the press,
It is important for countries today to have the necessary institutional structure and connections to facilitate the dissemination of new technologies.
The materialization of initiatives and technologically-oriented ideas relies on technical facilities as well as financial sources. With this on mind, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has done everything possible to set up and manage technopolises. The Technology Development Zones Law of 26 June 2001 is solely about this issue. This law will help the country acquire the much needed technologies, create original product designs and production technologies, set up an effective R&D system, and construct the technological infrastructure of our industry. I am glad that the law was passed in such a short period.
Technological advancement is more important for developing countries than it is for industrialized ones. One of the reasons why this is so is because technology does not develop on its own and because it carries the socio-economic characteristics of the country it is developed in. Therefore, the process of industrialization cannot be complete only with imported technology because the ever-changing socio-economic conditions must also be adapted to production systems.
When the relationship between industrialization and technology is considered, we see that efforts for producing national technology lies at the bottom of industrialization. The success that some developing countries have had in increasing their technological capacity in the last 20-30 years shows that the production of technology is not under the monopoly of developed countries. In addition, these examples also disprove the claim that developing countries can only make production through technology transfer. On the contrary, if the necessary parameters are provided, these countries may even become successful exporters of technology in certain areas.
Science and technology have a mutual and positive effect on each other. Scientific and technological improvements accelerate economic development, which in turn accelerates the general well-being of the society. Besides, the scientific and technological superiority of countries also make them economically, militarily and culturally superior.
The criteria for competitive power has changed over time, among which technology is an important one. Other important criteria include management style, the human factor and advanced systems. Highly competitive and successful companies share some common qualities, some of which are:
1. Identifying the trends in the market on time,
2. Developing products that create new markets,
3. Developing processes to produce these products with high quality and low costs,
4. Employing dynamic, flexible and effective methods.
The Turkish production industry needs to make better use of technology. In order to increase our technology potential for industrialization, we need to identify the technology production and policies that we need and give importance to the national innovation system.
The future of advanced industrial economies lies in value-added activities. Therefore, it is important to produce information-based industries that can use scientific and technological findings. Universities have a big potential to help new technology-based industries grow. New formations are needed so that universities can develop innovative products and processes through establishing close relationships with companies. Technology development zones have been set up with this on mind.
For this reason, we need to establish close cooperation between the private and public sectors and universities, administer comprehensive and market-oriented R&D and advanced technology programs, and set up the platform and mechanisms for these to interact.
We need to make the technology development zones operate effectively in order for the country to develop and for our companies to be able to compete with those in the EU. We also need the technology development zones to meet the technology need of the industry, to make effective use of universities, to offer our qualified people value-added jobs, and to avoid brain drain and economic crises.
The Technology Development Zones Law that we have just passed include highly important incentives, exemptions and modern characteristics that will enable highly effective university-industry collaboration and the direct transfer of the knowledge and technical potential of universities to the industry.
The main advantages of the Law are as follows:
· Land that belongs to public institutions and universities can be alloted to Technology Development Zones.
· Private and legal bodies can have partnerships with managerial companies in the Zones.
· Foreign managers and qualified R&D personnel can be employed.
· Civil servants and university staff can be employed part- or full-time in the Zones.
· The income gained by part-time university staff is exempt from the university revolving capital. Full-time personnel can be given unpaid leaves by their employers while they still hold their positions.
· University staff can set up companies in these Zones and/or accept managerial positions in companies.
· The costs of land, infrastructure and management buildings in the Zones that cannot be met by managerial companies can be met by the Ministry as far as budget allocations allow.
· Managerial companies are exempt from all taxes and expenses in all transactions related to the administration of this Law.
· Income gained from the R&D-based production and software activities by tax-payers in the Zones is exempt from income tax for five years. The period of exemption can be extended up to 10 years by the Board of Ministers.
· The income of researchers, software developers and R&D personnel is exempt from all tax for 10 years starting from the establishment of the Zone.
· Donations and subsidies given to R&D activities in these Zones are given certain tax reductions.
· METU and TUBITAK-Marmara Research Center Technopolises have been accepted as Zones and will be able to make use of all exemptions and support mentioned in the Law.
METU-Halici Software, that we are opening today, is an important attempt that will contribute to the development of the country. I heartily congratulate Mr Emrehan Halici on such an act. Hoping that this project is beneficial for the country, I salute you all.
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