Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Mr. Işık pronounced: “This valley which is to be built on a 3 million-meter square area will be an informatics base of Turkey where information turns into technology and technology turns into product”
“Informatics Valley will become a rich living space with the ecosystem to be created surrounding it along with social facilities which to be used by five thousand Research and Development firms and about 100,000 employees,” said Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Mr. Fikri Isik.
During the groundbreaking ceremony of Turkey's Informatics Valley to be established in the Muallim village of Gebze town, Mr. Işık stated that developments in the fields of information and technology affect the social life in every respect. Minister Mr. Işık who pointed out that the size of the global information and communication technologies market has reached the level of US $ 5 trillion said that:
“The sector offering the greatest opportunities for developing countries is the software industry. Informatics and software technologies have become prominent as the most important dynamics for the development of the country. Turkey needs to develop high value-added production system in the traditional sectors where we are strong and to increase the production and exports in the high-tech industry, in order for the country’s economy and social welfare to grow”
Mr. Isik also said that Turkey was “on the verge of a new breakthrough”
and Informatics Valley is one of the vision projects which is very important for a new success story and Mr. Işık continued his speech that:
“This valley which is to be built on a 3 million-meter square area will be an informatics base of Turkey where information turns into technology and technology turns into product. In this valley having a research and development office space with an area of 1.25 million-meter square where academics, industry, entrepreneurs, idea production, intelligence and great effort will come together, there will be not only informatics companies but also Research and Development companies that want to make production based on informatics technologies. In the “Informatics Valley” there will be a strong synergy with business incubators, international innovation and technology transfer offices and prototype workshops. “Informatics Valley will become a valuable living space with the ecosystem to be created surrounding it and recreation, sports areas and educational, social facilities to be used by five thousand Research and Development firms and about 100,000 employees”
Mr. Işık said that “We will transform the region into a center of attraction where there are 87 biggest industrial companies out of 500 and 37 organized industrial zones, 14 universities and institutions such as TUBITAK and TSE around. Size of the market of the region can reach US $ 25 trillion and population can reach1.5 billion with a 3.5 hour flight time and it will become an important logistics location with its airports, high speed train, highway connections and passages of the Bay.
Mr. Işık pointed out that the valley, which will become an educational base through collaboration with national and international universities, will host the first thematic innovation center of Turkey. In addition, Mr. Işık said that they have established an ecosystem in the “Informatics Valley” where technologies shaping the future will be produced and one of the biggest steps expediting technology-focused development of Turkey has been realized.
Minister Mr. Işık stated that scientists all around the world shaping the technology and innovative ideas will come together in the “Informatics Valley” and therefore Turkey will develop a world brand in the field of informatics technologies.
Mr. Işık pointed out that countries investing in informatics sector have faster growing economies and said that:
These countries have constituted a proper investment climate and become a center of attraction globally in the field of informatics. 3 of the world’s most valuable brands (Apple, Microsoft, Google) are operating in the field of informatics technologies. At this point Turkey must expedite its studies and have to be among the leading countries.
“We have created a necessary synergy in our country with the Informatics Valley”
Minister Mr. Işık reminded that separate working groups have been established within the ministry who are studying on the technologies such as big data, cloud computing, internet of things, wireless communication technologies (4G-5G), 3 dimensional printers and also stated that they committed to become a country not only using the technology but also developing it.
Mr. Işık, who pointed out that they are expecting that multi-national companies investing in the field of informatics and technology and especially allocating significant resources for Research and Development to take part in this Informatics Valley, and also said that “I’m speaking to all local and international companies and researchers. We have created a necessary synergy in our country with the Informatics Valley. Come and take part in this region where there will be all kinds of incentives and supports. I believe that companies that will take part in this valley will certainly gain”
During the ceremony, Governor of Kocaeli and Chairman of the Board of Informatics Valley, Mayor of Metropolitan Municipality of Kocaeli and Deputy Secretary of Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology made speeches.
Acting President of TUBITAK Prof. Dr. Mehmet Çelik, TUBİTAK Secretary General Arif Koyuncu, President of TUBITAK Marmara Research Center Associate Prof. Bahadır Tunaboylu and President of TUBITAK BİLGEM (Informatics And Information Security Research Center) Prof. Dr. Arif Ergin participated in the groundbreaking ceremony.
29.05.2015