Minister Kacır: Our close relationship and cooperation with the EU should be named

The opening program and signing ceremony of the European Digital Innovation Centers (ADİM), one of the mechanisms of the Digital Europe Program carried out by the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the Presidency's Digital Transformation Office and which will support Turkey's industry, businesses and public institutions in their digitalization processes, was held today in the Informatics Valley in the Gebze district with the participation of Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır. In addition to Minister Kacır, the program was attended by Yusuf Tancan, Deputy Head of the Presidency's Digital Transformation Office, Ambassador Thomas Hans Ossowski, Head of the European Union Delegation to Turkey, Henna Virkkunen, Vice President of the European Union Responsible for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, TUBITAK President Prof. Dr. Orhan Aydın, Kocaeli Governor İlhami Aktaş and invitees.

'WE WILL ESTABLISH 6 MORE NEW MODEL FACTORIES'

Speaking here, Minister Kacır stated that they have taken important steps to create modern infrastructures that will increase their productivity and competitiveness with programs that meet the financing needs of businesses within the scope of digital transformation and said, "We have commissioned our supercomputer ARF, which has the equivalent power of 35 thousand laptops, to support big data and artificial intelligence research. In addition, thanks to our membership in the EuroHPC Joint Venture, we also have direct access to the world's eighth most powerful supercomputer, MareNostrum 5. We have increased the number of our model factories that bring lean production to our industry and equip our current workforce with competencies suitable for the 4th Industrial Revolution to 10. In the upcoming period, we will establish 6 new model factories in Kocaeli, Denizli, Trabzon, Malatya, Sakarya and Tekirdağ. In addition to the successful digital transformation of our businesses, another issue we emphasize is to implement new investments with original and national technology solutions. Within the scope of HIT-30, the largest-scale incentive program in the history of our country; "We will continue to encourage strategic investments that will strengthen our domestic technology ecosystem with new calls we will make under the titles of hyper-scale data centers and industrial robotic systems ," he said.

'68 INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS FROM OUR COUNTRY HAVE ACCESSED 14 MILLION EURO FUND'

Referring to the Digital Europe Program, Minister Kacır said, "We see the EU Framework Programs as a valuable tool to increase the competitiveness of our country's industry and SMEs, which are currently one of the main actors of the European value chain. In this regard, we have joined the 'Digital Europe Program', which provides financing for the establishment of strategic infrastructures in areas such as high-performance computing and artificial intelligence and the training of human resources needed in these areas. As a result of our country's participation in this program in 2023, our industrialists, entrepreneurs and universities have had the opportunity to benefit from the critical infrastructures established within the scope of the program. They have become eligible to apply to the calls opened by the European Commission. To date, 68 institutions and organizations from our country have gained access to a fund of 14 million euros ."

MESSAGES TO THE EU

Speaking about full membership in the European Union, Kacır said, “In Turkey’s digital transformation journey, it is of great importance that the projects developed under the Digital Europe Program and the IPA program are designed to complement each other in line with a common goal. This integration will not only make cooperation more effective, but will also allow the IPA and Digital Europe programs to draw a common roadmap. Every infrastructure that will increase our country’s gains in industry and technology is also an investment in the future of Europe. Mr. Mario Draghi has prepared a comprehensive and striking report on the competitiveness of the European Union. The report clearly emphasizes that the innovation gap of the European Union has significantly slowed down productivity growth in the last 20 years. Similarly, it states that the EU economy has not been able to make the necessary breakthrough in terms of competitiveness and technological independence of the Union in many critical technology areas and technology entrepreneurship. Our country has the ability to bring the European Union forward in global competition with its young and dynamic population, potential, and strong production and technology development infrastructure. "Turkey's full membership in the European Union will go down in history as a strategic move based on a win-win principle. It is time to give a name to the close relationship and cooperation we currently maintain. I hope that this opportunity, which is of critical importance for the European Union, will be evaluated correctly and the doors of a new era will be opened together with our country," he said.

'WE MUST MANAGE TOGETHER IN UNION'

Speaking at the program, the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey, Ambassador Thomas Hans Ossowski, touched upon the importance of Turkey and said, "As a candidate country, Turkey is extremely important for us in terms of the European Union and cooperation. We have important work to do, especially in the field of digital transformation. Digital transformation is an area that touches every area of ​​our economic and social life, and this transformation will be the most important factor determining the future of young generations. Therefore, investing in the digital future is extremely important. The European Union and the European Commission are two important players in this sense. In this context, we are also very happy to work together with you. We are also achieving an important milestone at the opening ceremony of this center. Here, it is also underlined that the importance of maintaining global leadership for the ongoing competition in this field within the borders of the European Union and working together in areas that require urgent action in terms of investment, innovation and digital infrastructure in key strategic areas is also being emphasized. Of course, we had to start from a point; we have already started our work. However, these digital centers are the main actors and basic areas in terms of what needs to be done in this field. We are talking about a transformation that will have an impact on both the workforce and all different sectors. Therefore, we must manage this transformation courageously, hand in hand, without giving up in the face of difficulties,” he said.

'Türkiye HAS BEEN AN INFLUENTIAL COUNTRY FOR A LONG TIME'

Referring to Turkey's investments, Ossowski said, 'Turkey has been an active country in this field for a long time. In Turkey, serious investments are being made in the fields of artificial intelligence, innovation, digitalization, digital transformation and sustainability, both by the ministry and by different stakeholders in the country. These are extremely important steps for our future prosperity and sustainable growth. Turkey also acts together with its partners in Europe within the framework of the Digital Europe Programs. Institutions, academic institutions, institutes in Turkey, other academic institutions, universities and stakeholders in Europe work together in different cooperation projects and programs in the fields of digital transformation and technological advancement. Different programs implemented by your ministry also successfully provide great support in the field of innovation and digital transformation. I believe that we will create a high impact with the network formed by our Digital Innovation Centers today, our research centers and technology laboratories. Because if we want to make a difference, we also need to create a concrete impact.' (DHA)