23.11.2022 ANKARA
Under the coordination of the Presidency of Defense Industries, TOBB – TOBB ETU and ASELSAN joined forces. While the Quantum Technologies Research Laboratory was put into service at the TOBB ETU Technology Center, TOBB and ASELSAN signed protocols for the Nationalization and Supplier Development Program for SMEs and the Technology Center R&D Laboratory allocation.
The Union of Chambers
and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), TOBB University of Economics and
Technology (ETU) and ASELSAN joined forces in the technological field under the
coordination of the Presidency of Defense Industries. With the ceremony held at
TOBB ETU Technology Center, Kuantum Technologies Research Laboratory was put
into service. In addition, TOBB and
ASELSAN signed protocols for the Nationalization and Supplier Development
Program for SMEs and the allocation of the Technology Center R&D
Laboratory. TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of the Presidency
of Defense Industry Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir, Chairman and General Manager of
Aselsan Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, TOBB ETU Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Sarınay and
TOBB UYUM Chairman Cemil Çiçek attended the ceremony.
TOBB President M. Rifat
Hisarcıklıoğlu, in his evaluation of the cooperation, pointed out that they
have started new collaborations with Aselsan, which has become a world brand,
and said, “We, as a nation, first missed the agricultural revolution and then
the industrial revolution. And we've had the trouble of that for decades. Now
the world is on the brink of a new technological revolution. We want to catch
up with it before it's too late.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that by opening ASELSAN's quantum and advanced communication laboratory at TOBB
ETU, they aim to accelerate R&D and innovation studies, strengthen human
resources, increase international cooperation and competitiveness and
strengthen university-industry cooperation. TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that with the two protocols they signed, they aimed to increase the
number of SMEs that could participate in Aselsan's supply chain in the defense
industry sector, so that more SMEs would contribute to Aselsan's indigenization
and nationalization programs.
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “With this protocol, we aim to bring our member
companies to the defense industry ecosystem in the development of ASELSAN. We
also want our country to provide more incentives and supports to the companies
that will take part in the independent defense industry mobilization.”
- Strategic areas
nationalization and indigenization
In his speech at the
ceremony, İsmail Demir, President of the Presidency of Defense Industries,
emphasized that they did not compromise on nationalization and indigenization,
especially in strategic areas.
Demir said that they
attach great importance to the steps in the field of quantum technologies and
that Türkiye can move forward in such technologies with a holistic and
inclusive approach. Stating that they attach great importance to the support of
TOBB, the umbrella organization of the business world, Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir
said, “We will walk together, we have no choice but to succeed.”
Demir Babur added that
they are based on an inclusive approach from universities to government
institutions to research institutions and that they are all working together on
this issue.
ASELSAN Chairman and
General Manager Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün stated that they have realized an
important example of university-industry partnership with this cooperation, and
that TOBB has a wide network in Anatolia and that ASELSAN brings together the
technological projects in the field of quantum and the power of TOBB ETU.
Görgün said, “With the cooperation of TOBB, we find it valuable to reach
companies from all over Türkiye on the way to the independent defense
industry.”