- Oct 3, 2018
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The Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye (Turkish: T.C. Sanayi ve Teknoloji Bakanlığı) is one of the key executive ministries of the Turkish government, responsible for designing, implementing, and regulating policies related to industrial development, technological innovation, research and development, and national production capabilities. The Ministry is headquartered in Ankara and serves as the primary state institution for ensuring the sustainable growth of Türkiye’s industrial sectors in line with national and international economic objectives.
The Ministry plays a central role in shaping the vision for Türkiye’s industrial and technological future. It is tasked with managing and coordinating initiatives in:
Industrial Policy Development: Including manufacturing competitiveness, industrial modernization, and strategic sectoral support (e.g., defense, steel, automotive, chemicals, and electronics).
Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI): Oversight of scientific research institutions, R&D centers, and innovation ecosystems, often in cooperation with TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye).
R&D and Investment Incentives: The Ministry funds and administers a broad range of programs, including Technoparks, Organized Industrial Zones (OIZs), and R&D tax credits. It also facilitates Special Investment Incentive Programs, aimed at attracting domestic and foreign investors in high-tech and value-added sectors.
Technical Regulation and Standardization: Development and enforcement of industrial standards, technical specifications, and metrology systems in cooperation with the Turkish Standards Institution (TSE).
Space and Aviation Policy: Through affiliated organizations such as the Turkish Space Agency (TUA) and collaborations with national aerospace manufacturers like TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industries) and ROKETSAN.
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs): The Ministry supports SMEs through KOSGEB (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization), providing grants, consulting, and access to global markets.
Digital Transformation and Industry 4.0: Spearheading initiatives such as the Digital Turkey Platform, which seeks to increase automation, artificial intelligence, and data-driven production capacity in Turkish industry.
Foreign Industrial Cooperation: Facilitating bilateral and multilateral industrial and trade agreements, particularly in the context of the European Union Customs Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the G20.
In times of national need or global instability (e.g., supply chain disruptions), the Ministry may regulate pricing or production quotas in critical sectors to ensure domestic supply security and price stability.
Organizational Structure
The Ministry operates through various directorates and affiliated institutions, including:
- General Directorate of Industrial Development
- General Directorate of National Technology
- General Directorate of Strategic Research and Productivity
- Directorate of National Property and Investments
- Directorate of Trade and Foreign Affairs
- Directorate of Technological Zones and Clusters
Under its long-term strategy, the Ministry is implementing the National Technology Initiative (Milli Teknoloji Hamlesi) and contributing to broader national plans such as Vision 2023, Green Development Goals, and Türkiye's 2053 Net Zero Emissions Target. These strategies aim to boost local innovation, reduce dependency on foreign technology, support green transformation in industry, and position Türkiye as a regional and global hub of high-tech manufacturing.
Dr. Selim Kaya was appointed as Minister of Industry and Technology on January 16, 2022, by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Minister Kaya is a veteran public servant, policy strategist, and internationally trained economist with a track record in both trade negotiations and industrial transformation initiatives.
Dr. Kaya earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara and later received a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Trade Law from Harvard Law School, followed by a Ph.D. in Industrial Policy and Innovation Economics from the London School of Economics (LSE).
He began his career as a trade policy advisor in the Ministry of Economy from 1991 to 1993 and held progressively senior positions over the next two decades, including:
He is widely respected across political and academic circles as a reform-oriented technocrat. Minister Kaya has been a vocal proponent of adapting Anglo-American commercial legal models to modernize Türkiye’s economic regulatory framework. He advocates for entrepreneurial state models, improved IP rights enforcement, and a green industrial transition aligned with the European Green Deal.
Fluent in Turkish, English, and German, and conversational in French, Dr. Kaya is also a published author on trade policy and innovation. Under his leadership, the Ministry has placed a renewed emphasis on technology sovereignty, start-up ecosystem development, and domestic production in strategic industries, including semiconductors, renewable energy technologies, and defense systems.
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Vladimir Nikolaevich Plotnikov |
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