Turkey - opportunities for business, outsourcing, partnerships and joint ventures

If you work on the Science Park, please register via the form on the right, otherwise please email your contact details to Kimberley Hardman kimberley.hardman@cambridgesciencepark.co.uk

Spending for information and communication technology in Turkey has reached $17.1 billion in 2019, according to an International Data Corporation (IDC) report. It is expected to grow further in 2020 and leading up to the country’s 2023 goals, the year that signifies the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. The targets for GERD (Gross Domestic Expenditures on Research and Development) and BERD (Business Enterprise Research and Development) were set by the Supreme Council of Science and Technology; they are expected to reach 3% and 2% of GDP respectively by 2023. Hence, Turkey will be heavily investing in its ICT over the next couple of years.

With the transition from the parliamentary system to the presidential system, Turkey aims to ensure a rapid and effective executive decision-making. One of the major components of this transformation is in the digital infrastructure and accessibility in the country. The Digital Transformation Office was established to serve this purpose, and Dr Ali Taha Koc was appointed as the Government Chief Information Officer. The Digital Transformation Office (DTO) is responsible for undertaking the massive task of reforming the government’s digital infrastructure, introducing AI technologies to government institutions in health, agriculture, defense and education. The DTO is also responsible for cybersecurity, big data and digital service coordination across government bodies as well as e-government services.

Please come and join us on Dec 4, when the Government CIO, Dr. Ali Taha Koc, and his team will explain the digital transformation process of Turkey and will give details about opportunities for business, outsourcing, partnerships and joint ventures in Turkey.

Dr. Ali Taha Koç

Dr Ali Taha Koç, was appointed the Head of Digital Transformation Office and the Government Chief Information Officer in Sept 2018. Prior to this position, he served as the Head of Information Technologies and Acting Head of the Security Policies Department at the Presidency of Turkey between 2014 and 2018. Dr Koc started his career in the Turkish government as the Chief Technology Adviser to the Prime Minister in 2014. In addition to his duties at the Presidency, he has been a board member for Turksat Satellite Communications & Cable TV Business Inc. since 2014.

Before he returned to Turkey, Dr Koc was a research and development (R&D) engineer at Intel in the US from 2005 to 2014. During his tenure at Intel, he developed 76 patents, published 23 scientific articles, and developed and managed several international projects. In 2013 Intel awarded Dr. Koç for being one of the top 10 most patent inventors in the company.

Dr Koc got his MSci and PhD from the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Texas at Dallas. He also teaches graduate and doctorate courses at the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Bilkent University.

If you work on the Science Park, please register via the form on the right, otherwise please email your contact details to Kimberley Hardman kimberley.hardman@cambridgesciencepark.co.uk