Minding the gap: helping Turkey’s economic transformation
To keep us at the forefront of technology, Rolls-Royce has made consistent investment in Research and Development (R&D); in 2015, we invested £1.2 billion in R&D, including funding from governments and other bodies. For a long time, we’ve preferred a collaborative approach to R&D which explains our extensive network of 31 University Technology Centres, and our membership to collaborative Technology Centres around the world.
The Turkish government recognises the importance of R&D too, and last year has introduced incentives to support R&D in Turkey. Their aim is to realise the potential of R&D and cultivate a culture of innovation to help transform Turkey’s economy and put focus on building high value manufacturing industries. The main path of their R&D reform is based on university-industry collaboration.
Academia and industry have been in cooperation for hundreds of years. However, the current global economy requires strategic collaborations which surpass typical grants or research programmes. These deeper, more meaningful partnerships are very relevant in helping realise Turkey’s economic ambitions. The realisation of the country’s great potential requires “near to market” technologies which will be developed by a fresh understanding of R&D and a new approach to university-industry relationships. Building the future through high value manufacturing is only possible with partnerships.
A “sand pit” to produce “near to market” technologies
To achieve this, a common platform which will bring industry and academia together at the earliest possible stage is vital. This same platform can stimulate the adoption of new manufacturing methods across multiple sectors, companies and supply chains. This way, the impact of R&D will be far reaching and significant.
Turkey’s recently announced Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centre (AMTC) offers such a platform. This project is led by Turkey’s Ministry of Science Industry & Technology with the co-operation with Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK). Turkey’s AMTC is a real opportunity to accelerate growth to develop ready-to-apply manufacturing technology and pull in the capabilities of Turkey’s small and medium businesses. The centre will be a manufacturing technology “sand pit” which bridges the gap between proofing and actual production of the technology.
As a collaborative public-private partnership model, it will encourage supplier development, training and skills development and technology innovation. The AMTC is an open platform; a best-practice sharing high-tech facility in which step-change improvements are pursued and activities are focussed by an industrial membership that collectively funds generic research. It will operate in the traditionally difficult space of manufacturing innovation where university research is applied and developed in conjunction with full scale equipment.
The critical end result of such a “sand-pit” will be its crucial economic value to Turkish industries. It will develop capability and technology which can be applied across multiple industries from energy to marine, aerospace to nuclear.
Boosting home-grown industry projects
Rolls-Royce is proud to be the founding industry partner of Turkey’s AMTC. We are key partners in similar technology centres in seven sites located in the UK, US and Singapore. Turkey’s maturing industrial base and high academic standards, along with its ambition to develop its industry has convinced Rolls-Royce to join as a founding member and support Turkey’s ambitions.
We strongly believe that AMTC will enable the means to deliver the home-grown high value manufacturing that Turkey needs and deserves for its sustainable growth.
Turkey has recently been taking significant steps in conducting home-grown industry projects: the Turkish Light Utility Helicopter TLUH, Fighter Jet TFX, and Main Battle Tanks are just a few examples. The Ministries of Science Industry & Technology, Defence, and Energy, along with institutions such as TUBITAK and SSM - Undersecretaries of Defence Industry, are prioritizing the nationalisation of high value manufacturing. This is a very promising start to the journey, the first steps of which journey are being taken by the formation of Turkey’s AMTC.
We expect both International original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Turkish companies of all sizes to be members of this Centre. Knowledge gained with members is critical in shaping supply chain capability for Turkey to meet its future needs of the aerospace, defence and civil nuclear industries for both itself and for the region.