Science Envoy Finds Strong Programs, Opportunities in

UNCLAS ANKARA 000175 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR OES/STC: William Lawrence STATE please pass to OSTP: Jason Rao E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON SENV TU SUBJECT: Science Envoy Finds Strong Programs, Opportunities in Turkey REFERENCE: Ankara 22 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: On a January 13-15 visit to Ankara and Istanbul, Science Envoy Dr. Ahmed Zewail met with academics, government officials, and PM Erdogan. He was impressed by the GOT's strong commitment to S&T development and the programs being implemented in academia and the private sector, all of which made clear Turkey's potential role as both a partner to the U.S. and a regional leader in supporting other countries in developing their S&T sectors. Several interlocutors noted the U.S. presence in S&T in Turkey has declined as that of the EU has grown, and all--including Erdogan--said they would welcome increased U.S.-Turkey collaboration. The meeting with Erdogan will be reported septel. End summary. ¶2. (U) U.S. Science Envoy Dr. Ahmend Zewail, Senior Policy Advisor Dr. Jason Rao of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, ESTH Hub Officer Manu Bhalla, and mission staff met with representatives of government and academia in Ankara and Istanbul January 13-15 to identify possible areas for strengthened U.S.-Turkey collaboration in science and technology. The delegation was received warmly to quite enthusiastically by the various parties. ACADEMIA -------------- ¶3. (U) The delegation visited Middle East Technical University (METU) and Bilkent University in Ankara. METU, a public university with more than 20,000 students (6,500 grad students) enrolled in 13 departments, is proud of its science faculty. Faculty are provided extensive funding and time for research while supporting their teaching responsibilities. An impressive science park on the campus houses 240 companies -- some started through the university and some that chose the venue for the R&D tax incentives provided. ¶4. (SBU) METU was established based on a U.S. university credit and program structure and maintains ties with several U.S. schools. METU staff told the delegation, however, that interest in student exchanges with European countries is growing while interest in U.S. exchanges is falling, largely due to the significantly better funding offered to foreign students by European universities and through EU programs. Commenting on this shift, one METU official remarked, "Before, the EU was just a connecting flight." METU President Dr. Ahmet Acar said METU receives very little research funding from U.S. sources--nothing in comparison with funds from the EU. Acar commended the GOT's commitment to S&T and to increasing access to education throughout the country. He worried, however, that the government might spread its efforts too thin and recommended even further funding increases and a strategy more focused on "networks of excellence." In the region, Acar ranked Turkey second only to Israel in S&T and saw great potential for deepened U.S.-Turkey collaboration. He suggested one avenue could be establishing networks of universities and/or technology parks generally to promote the exchange of best practices and to engage in increased advocacy, joint marketing, and joint projects. ¶5. (U) At Bilkent University, Turkey's first private university, Zewail met with 14 professors with U.S. PhDs and discussed their key areas of research, ranging from lasers to bio-genetics. According to Provost Abdullah Atalar, Bilkent's endowment is over USD 2 billion, including 40 private companies that the university owns. Funds from these operations allow Bilkent to "reverse the brain drain" by hiring top professors, both foreign and Turkish. ¶6. (SBU)Zewail also discussed the need for a change in Turkish law to enable universities to work with professors to commercialize the product of research. The Bilkent professors noted that under current Turkish law, universities are barred from any ownership in the intellectual property resulting from the work of their professors. Bilkent's attorneys have advised that this law also bars the university from buying out a professor's interest or going into a joint venture with a professor. While this appears positive for Turkish professors, in fact, given the almost total lack of venture capital or scientific understanding in the financial community, it results in most Turkish research products being sold at low prices to foreign companies to develop. TUBITAK -------------- ¶7. (U) The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) administers most of the GOT's R&D funding. It is an independent body under the Prime Ministry and State Minister for Science, Technology and Information Mehmet Aydin. TUBITAK also serves as the secretariat of the GOT's advisory Supreme Council for Science and Technology Policy. TUBITAK President Nuket Yetis, representatives of the Supreme Council, and members of the TUBITAK staff met with the delegation on January 14. ¶8. (U) In an overview presentation, TUBITAK Vice President Omer Anlagan said the GOT has set a target of raising R&D funding levels to 2 percent of GDP by 2013 and has made remarkable progress in increasing its funding to the current allocation of 0.7 percent of GDP, with almost USD 500 million in research funding available through competitive grants. Turkey currently ranks 17th in R&D budget allocations as a percentage of GDP, and 18th globally in number of scientific publications. Spurred by increased GOT funding, R&D expenditures in Turkey rose fourfold from 2002 to 2008. Anlagan noted that although government funding of academia had not decreased, R&D expenditures by the private sector surpassed those of academia in 2008. As a result of private sector R&D, Turkish companies lay claim to the world's fastest washing machine and Europe's most energy efficient refrigerator. Anlagan summarized the various funding and incentives offered by the GOT for R&D, explaining that generally, the nationality of the researcher does not matter if the work is being done in Turkey. He said if a company uses all the available incentives, it is cheaper to employ R&D staff in Turkey than in India. He also highlighted the "Young PhD" career program, through which the GOT provides USD 500 million per year to support academics who have received their PhD within the last five years. When Zewail asked why the government provides more funding for industry research than basic research, Yetis cited a need to stimulate private sector demand for R&D, which in turn should stimulate demand for basic research. She added that without tangible results, it is hard to convince politicians to increase funding. ¶9. (U) Yetis commented that she hopes we will soon have a U.S.-Turkey S&T Agreement, but simply to have one means nothing. She stressed the need for an action plan, with specific mechanisms and unique and meaningful programs to strengthen our S&T relationship. Dr. Zewail responded that his vision for any collaboration that grows from this initiative is that it be sustained, be in an area of importance to both the U.S. and Turkey, and yield tangible outcomes that enhance development, preferably, with regional benefits as well. He suggested forming a center of excellence as one possibility, noting he defines "center" more broadly than just a building and considers the people involved to be the key factor. Yetis recommended identifying up front the desired end products for any collaboration. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS -------------- ¶10. (U) Minister of Industry and Commerce Nihat Ergun welcomed the delegation and the CDA to his office, saying he hoped this U.S. initiative would succeed and he would be happy to help with the undertaking. He outlined the GOT programs that have significantly strengthened R&D in recent years, noting that 37 technoparks have been established in the last 7 years and 60 new public universities have been opened, such that each of Turkey's 81 provinces now has at least one university. Asked to identify Turkey's particular areas of strength in S&T, Ergun observed that Turkey has a very young population with lots of good ideas. He said the top sector for them is informatics, and they are very successful at software development. Other areas where they excel are those especially open to new technologies, including space research, defense, medical research and nanotechnology. ¶11. (U) In separate meetings, Minister of State for Science and Technology Mehmet Aydin and Justice and Development Party (AKP) R&D Representative Reha Denemec both highlighted for the delegation the AKP's strong push for science and technology over past eight years and affirmed that it will continue. Denemec particularly noted the wiring of all schools for internet and expansion of internet-based learning and software. Both Aydin and Denemec also welcomed the idea of broader engagement between the U.S. and Turkey on science and technology. Aydin commented that President Obama's speeches in Ankara and Cairo were "very enlightening." Denemec identified aviation, avionics, space and defense as areas of strength in R&D. ¶12. (U) Manu Bhalla and Jason Rao cleared this cable. JEFFREY