FINANCE DEVELOPMENT IN QATAR

History and Early Development

Turkey has long been and continues to be an advocate of raising science and technology to new heights, and has recently been engaged in a significant science, technology and innovation (STI) impetus with the vision to contribute to new knowledge and develop innovative technologies to improve the quality of life by transforming the former into products, processes and services for the benefit of the country and humanity. Such an advocacy is rooted in the advancement of a dynamic ideal based on continuous renewal and modernization under the guidance of science, technology and knowledge. Today, the actors as a whole have succeeded to put forth a determination to continue to invest in R&D and innovation, which is a key driver of future sustainable growth, and increase demand for STI in the country years to come. Science and Technology in Turkey is centrally planned by TüBİTAK and in responsibility of universities and research institutes. R&D activities in Turkey show a significant jump in recent years.

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Turkish: TüBİTAK) is a national agency of Turkey whose stated goal is to develop "science, technology and innovation" (STI) policies, support and conduct research and development, and to "play a leading role in the creation of a science and technology culture" in the country. TüBİTAK was founded in 1963 as an autonomous public institution, governed by a Science Board. TüBİTAK develops scientific and technological policies and manages R&D institutes, carrying on research, technology and development studies in line with "National priorities".Through monitoring and evaluating national and worldwide STI policies and by performing or commissioning research on policy making formulation methods, TüBİTAK prepares STI policy proposals and carries out studies. In recent years, TüBİTAK, founded as an apolitical institution, has been criticised for succumbing to political pressures put on it by the ruling conservative Justice and Development Party, and subsequently, for its refusal to fund evolutionary biology researches. TüBİTAK was established by President Cemal Gürsel, who first formed a scientific council to guide the Ministry of Defence in 1960 and later ordered the foundation of the broader Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey as the extended continuation of his MoD Scientific Council with the primary advisory duty of providing guidance to the government's plans and policies.To carry out these tasks, four research grant committees were set up to fund projects in the areas of basic sciences, engineering, medicine, agriculture and animal husbandry. The number now stands at ten and also includes one assigned to social sciences and humanities, all functioning under the Research Support Programmes Department. A separate "Scientist Training Group", also set up at the time to orient promising students towards scientific careers and help their advancement thereafter, has now evolved into the present Science Fellowships and Grant Programmes Division and TUBITAK head office is based in Ankara, Turkey.

○Who controls financial sector in Turkey?

The Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology is a government ministry office of the Republic of Turkey, responsible for industrial and commercial affairs in Turkey which now headed by Faruk Özlü.

A Turkish team plans to expand the number of its researchers for its Antarctica mission during its next visit to the remote continent in December this year, according to the leader of a team of Turkish scientists. "We aim to establish a green base. In the first stage, it would be ideal that 20 to 25 scientists work at the Turkey Scientific Research Base," Özsoy said. Özsoy said the team had completed its initial feasibility study on Antarctica and the location of the Turkish base in the continent would be clarified in the second visit. An estimated 100 scientific research bases have been established in Antarctica since the 1930s. She said the Turkish team had visited Chilean, Argentinian, Chinese, Ukrainian, Russian and British bases during their earlier mission. "We aim to establish a green base. There will be a cost in respect to the standards and aims that we [are] determined [to achieve]," she added. When asked about the number of scientists she expects to work at the Turkish base, she said the U.S. can deploy up to 1,000 people in one base, while another country's base may have 10 scientists. "In the first stage, it would be ideal that 20 to 25 scientists work at the Turkey Scientific Research Base," she said.In April last year, a historic first, a team of 14 Turkish researchers, including medical doctors, botanists, survey and geological engineers, and oceanographers from seven Turkish universities went to Antarctica on a scientific mission to study the impact of climate change.

○Later Development in Turkish science and tech

Turkey's rapid economic growth, even in the face of the global economic downturn, has made it a model for dozens of countries across the world looking to develop everything from a robust banking system to health care reform. Half of the country's population is under 30, and Turkey has a higher expected college graduation rate than Italy. According to the most recent statistics, Turkey had more than 30 million Facebook users - more than France or Germany. Turkey is third in the world in the use mobile devices for e-commerce, and more than 4 million people in Turkey use mobile banking. International capital firms have started backing businesses in Turkey, and a number of local angel investors and venture capital firms are already supporting new startups. 212 Capital Partners recently launched with $30 million in investments, while Dubai-based Abraaj Group has invested more than $800 million in Turkey since 2007, and is raising funds for a $500 million fund devoted to the country. Flat4Day, Turkey's answer to Airbnb, has locations in 71 countries and has raised more than $3.5 million in capital. Start-ups are not the only companies reaping the benefits of Turkey's connected society; many established companies have begun to see the many opportunities in the country. Spotify recently announced that it would offer its premium service in Turkey, in partnership with Vodafone Turkey. Many of the world's most innovative companies are already invested in Turkey, and the blossoming start-up economy will only drive further investment.

Turkish internet companies have borrowed businessmodels from abroad and given them Turkish tweaks.The size of the Turkish marketis a "Double-edged sword", says Numan Numan, a former Goldman Sachsbanker now at 212, a venture-capital firm which takes its name from thetelephone code for the European side of Istanbul. Of the six Turkish firms inwhich 212 have invested, Mr Numan expects "a minimum of four to goregional at least". Turkish internet firms think they have a good base fromwhich to expand, especially into the Middle East and North Africa. BecauseTurkish television and culture are popular in the region, endorsements byTurkish celebrities can help to sell clothes and shoes. In November, in a hallat Bilgi University in Istanbul, 20 young Turkish companies coached by Bootcamp Ventures, the event's organiser, presented their plans to prospectiveinvestors.

However, despite all this good developments, current situation in Turkey where the education and science and tech sector were handled by the government has slowed down the fast development of science and tech field in the country. Turkish authorities need to quickly recover the industry before it collapsed on its own one day which will affect the country’s booming economy.

Wehope for the best and situation in Turkey to recover as soon as possible.