20.03.2018
The protocol that will expand the ongoing cooperation in the field of science and innovation between Turkey and the United Kingdom, was signed by United Kingdom Ministry of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Istanbul Development Agency (IDA).
The protocol was signed by Governor of Istanbul and Chairman of IDA Vasip Sahin, and by United Kingdom Ambassador in Turkey Sir Dominick Chilcott on behalf of the United Kingdom Ministry of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy.
With the protocol signed in Istanbul, it is aimed to further increase and develop the business cooperation in the areas of R&D, education and innovation between the two countries. In this respect, the highest level of private sector and higher education institutions cooperation between the two countries, the development of financial instruments to support innovation projects jointly with the United Kingdom and providing of exchange programmes for students, researchers, entrepreneurs, are planned.
With the cooperation protocol Turkey and the United Kingdom will also find the opportunity to improve their technology-based commerce and investment relations and to share best practices based on regional innovation policies.
Governor Şahin: "There will be new opportunities in trade and investment relations."
In his speech at the signing ceremony of the protocol IDA Chairman and Governor of Istanbul Vasip Şahin stated; "We believe this protocol will provide a significant contribution to the long time ongoing cooperation between the United Kingdom and Turkey. This cooperation will enable the development of evidence based policies and increase the sharing of two sides, as well as having new opportunities in terms of trade and investment relations. Thus, it is aimed to develop technological and innovation cooperation, which has gained momentum recently, in the field of regional development. " Vasip Şahin pointed out that it would be possible to obtain positive results in lots of issues within the cooperation. He stated: " I think, the scope of cooperation could be; to design a joint financial support program in partnership with the UK stakeholders and the Istanbul Development Agency, to organize joint events in the fields of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, to take advantage of international experience in order to increase the innovation capacity of Istanbul and to enable our stakeholder to represent Istanbul in international scientific and research platforms, to contribute to joint project development for multilateral international programs and to contribute to the promotion of business and investment opportunities in collaboration with related institutions at national and international level. I hope that this protocol will lead to joint development and success.” United Kingdom Ambassador to Turkey Sir Dominic Chilcott stated in his speech” Beginning with the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Turkey and the United Kingdom in 2014, 307 researchers from Turkey has been funded over 17 million pounds by Newton-Katip Çelebi Fund. In 2015, it was declared the Year of Science and Innovation between Turkey and the United Kingdom. In the same year, approximately 50 events were organized and more than 1,000 researchers, policymakers and companies came together. They have been informed about the Newton-Katip Çelebi Fund, as well as, other scientific cooperation opportunities. We hope to deepen our existing cooperation by signing this agreement with the Istanbul Development Agency. We aim to bring together the universities and companies in the UK and Istanbul and support joint-development of value-added projects by developing funding tools that are focused on science and innovation with the Agency."
The alliance has developed with the Fund, which is worth £ 56 million
The alliance of science and innovation between the two countries has accelerated with Katip Çelebi-Newton Fund which was constituted by TUBITAK and the United Kingdom Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Ministry in 2014 in order to support joint research and innovation activities. The total budget of Katip Çelebi-Newton Fund is 56 million pounds and it will continue until 2021. After the establishment of Katip Çelebi-Newton Fund, in 2015 United Kingdom-Turkey the Year of Science and Innovation was announced. This, an important milestone, provided a great opportunity to develop scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries. More than 1,000 researchers, policy-makers and companies were brought together in nearly 50 events in the same year, and scientific cooperation opportunities, including the Katip Çelebi-Newton Fund, were introduced.
Beginning with the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Turkey and the United Kingdom in 2014, 307 researchers from Turkey so far has been funded over 17 million pounds, by Newton-Katip Çelebi Fund. Moreover, Newton-Katip Çelebi Fund has reached 72 organizations in 27 cities in Turkey and it is geographically inclusive.In the upcoming period, the United Kingdom aims at including more stakeholders and increasing funding opportunities among the targets under the Newton-Katip Çelebi Fund.
