Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology, Mehmet Fatih Kacır, confirmed that Turkey has achieved first place globally in terms of the proportion of female inventors in international patent applications. This announcement came during the inauguration of the "Women's Innovation Information Center" affiliated with the Women and Democracy Foundation (KADEM) in Istanbul, which aims to enhance the role of female entrepreneurs in the tech ecosystem.
Continuous Government Support for Research and Innovation
Minister Kacır reviewed the figures related to government support directed at female researchers and entrepreneurs, pointing out that the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) has provided 32 billion liras in support to 233,000 female researchers over the past 23 years. Additionally, programs by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization (KOSGEB) have contributed 23.5 billion liras to more than 85,000 female entrepreneurs during the same period.
Strengthening the Startup Ecosystem
Kacır noted the qualitative transformation in the Turkish technology sector, as local startups have successfully reached billion-dollar valuations (known as Turcorns). He explained that 5 out of 8 Turkish startups achieving this valuation were founded by women, reflecting the pivotal role of women in driving technological innovation across diverse fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and gaming technology.
Why This News Matters
This announcement represents an indicator of the success of Turkish national policies in integrating female talent into research and development (R&D) sectors. The importance of the newly inaugurated center lies in its role as a bridge between innovative ideas and investors, as 20 women-led tech projects have been selected to receive direct support and professional guidance, enhancing the chances of transforming these ideas into globally competitive technology companies.
Figures and Statistics
- Financial Support: 32 billion liras for female researchers via TÜBİTAK and 23.5 billion liras for female entrepreneurs via KOSGEB.
- Human Resources: 28,000 women work in Turkish research and design centers, in addition to 36,000 women in companies operating within technoparks.
- Training: Nearly 947,000 female entrepreneurs have been trained since 2010 within applied entrepreneurship programs.