Institutes to develop technology, private sector will produce

A new draft law on the restructuring of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) is with the cabinet and will soon be submitted to parliament, according to sources speaking with daily Dunya in Ankara, The bill is due to be debated at the commission level before the recess ahead of the referendum and enacted later in April.

TUBITAK currently determines science and technology policies and supports these with state resources, then enters tenders with other institutions. After the reorganization, new technologies will be produced by institutes, and products will be produced by the private sector after a tender process. TUBITAK institutions will no longer enter these tenders. This is aimed at encouraging more private sector involvement and reducing the state’s role in production.

Under the new structure, TUBITAK will sell the technology and patent to the company that offers the most appropriate price. Institutes will develop the technology, while the private sector will produce products with state purchase guarantees.