Boyner stressed that encouraging R&D investment is of vital importance for the future of Turkish SMEs. Speaking to reporters in İstanbul on Monday at a press conference to launch the 9th Technology Awards, a contest organized jointly by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), the Technology Development Foundation of Turkey (TTGV) and TÜSİAD, Boyner said they had started to receive applications for the contest. “It has become a must for businesses to improve their R&D infrastructure so that they can have a voice in today’s cut-throat market atmosphere,” she noted. Underlining that SMEs need more encouragement to engage in new R&D investments, the association’s chairwoman said both private and public institutions should shoulder responsibility in this regard.
Industry and Trade Minister Nihat Ergün recently said Turkish SMEs should be encouraged to merge in order to receive government funding. SMEs in Turkey have to employ at least 50 people before they can receive monetary support for R&D from the government.
