Scenesetter for Science Envoy Dr. Zewail

UNCLAS ANKARA 000022 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: Scenesetter for Science Envoy Dr. Zewail Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) While U.S. and Turkish entities collaborate in several areas of science and technology, both sides see room for and benefit to expanding collaboration. The Turks are particularly interested in results-oriented partnerships that can spur economic development. Currently, the strongest areas of USG S&T collaboration in Turkey are in earth sciences, energy, and support of academic exchanges and programs. POINTS TO RAISE ¶2. (SBU) You should raise the following points during your meetings: --Applaud Turkey's strong commitment to R&D and the increased grant funding and incentives the GOT has put in place over the past several years. (paras 4-5) --The U.S. is committed to expanding S&T collaboration with Turkey, building on the base of existing governmental, academic, and private sector cooperation. (para 6-9) --Venture capital funds and other infrastructure are vital to commercializing research results. Given the strength of the U.S. venture capital and intellectual-property-rights development system, this is an area ripe for bilateral cooperation. (para 9) WATCH OUT FOR ¶3. (SBU) The Turks are like to raise the following points: --How can Turkey benefit from the promise of President Obama's Cairo speech? What specific programs and funding can you offer? (para 4) --Requests for getting a Turkish astronaut into space (there are no spaces left on any of the remaining space shuttle flights before the program ends). (para 6) --How can we collaborate to improve the link between scientific research and economic development? (paras 4-5) --While all the representatives you will meet will look to you for ideas, some will also present specific suggestions for programs and partnerships. Turkish Government Committed to R&D Support -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Turks are very interested in expanding collaboration with the U.S. in science and technology. Staff at the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) particularly noted President Obama's comments in Cairo about establishing centers of excellence and developing the R&D-innovation-commercialization cycle. As TUBITAK Vice President Dr. Omar Anlagan recently told us, Turkey seeks to build a science and technology relation with the U.S. that yields "solid results." ¶5. (U) In 2005, the government of Turkey (GOT) decided to increase its research and development spending in order to improve productivity and reduce the trade deficit. It set a target of two percent of GDP for R&D funding by 2015. After four years of progress toward that goal, the government has now moved the target date up to 2013. GOT funding is distributed by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) to both academics and the private sector, foreign or domestic. The GOT also provides tax incentives for companies who engage in R&D in one of several "technoparks," usually located near universities. In 2008 the government extended these incentives to companies outside the technoparks that have more than 50 employees in their R&D departments. Partially as a result of these GOT measures, the R&D landscape in Turkey has been changing over the past several years, such that the private sector recently surpassed academia in the level of R&D expenditures. USG Collaboration -------------- ¶6. (SBU) U.S. government agencies and universities collaborate with Turkish agencies, universities, and private companies in several areas. In recent years, representatives from CDC, NIH, USGS, NOAA, NASA, EPA, NSF, and the Department of Energy (DOE) have visited Turkey to provide training or technical assistance or participate in conferences. Other key treaties, programs, and fields of interest include the following: --S&T Agreement: We signed a scientific and technical cooperation agreement with Turkey in 1994 and extended it in 1999. The extension has expired, however, and we are currently negotiating a new agreement. --Earth Sciences: Under the "Agreement concerning the closure of Belbasi installation and the activation of a new seismic research station," the USGS provides the GOT with seismographic equipment and limited technical assistance related to the equipment. The USGS also cooperates with Bogazaci University on seismic research and in 2002 signed a "Memorandum of understanding concerning scientific and technical cooperation in the earth sciences" with the Turkish Ministry of Public Works and Settlement. --Space Programs: As a result of PM Erdogan's recent meeting with President Obama and a request from President Gul, NASA is exploring possibilities for cooperation on space programs. It is unlikely, however, that the Turks will be able to participate in a space shuttle mission as NASA informs us that there are no spaces left on any of the remaining flights before the program ends. --Clean Energy: Another potential area for expanding cooperation is clean energy. This is an area of strong interest for the Turks, as their national energy strategy sets an ambitious goal of meeting 30 percent of power demand through renewable sources by 2023. DOE is actively working to maintain and expand its collaboration with Turkey. In June DOE will hold a regional conference on energy efficiency in Istanbul. DOE also has drafted a proposal for a "partnership for energy innovation," which aims to provide a sustained mechanism for enhanced cooperation on clean energy technologies and energy efficiency and highlight Turkey's ability to serve as a regional model for energy innovation. DOE cannot fund the initiative at this time, however, and so has not formally proposed it to the GOT. Academic Exchanges and Partnerships -------------- ¶7. (U) Although information on programs specific to science and technology is limited, student exchanges and academic partnerships between Turkey and the U.S. are generally strong. The Fulbright program budget has increased fivefold over the past six years, most recently with a $1 million increase (50 percent from the Turkish Ministry of Education, 50 percent from the USG). The program presently supports over 200 student and faculty exchanges annually as well as educational advising services and small support grants to needy students applying for U.S. university-based scholarships. ¶8. (SBU) The number of Turkish students attending U.S. institutions increased 10 percent to 13,000 for the 2008-2009 school year, ranking Turkey 8th among countries of origin. The GOT provides 1000 scholarships a year to masters and doctorate students to study abroad. According to TUBITAK VP Anlagan, the majority of the recipients choose to attend U.S. universities, to the extent that other countries have asked the GOT to intervene to sway recipients' choices, which the GOT will not do. Nearly 200 U.S. colleges and universities have partnerships and exchange programs with Turkish universities. A science-specific example is the Selcuk University (Konya)/Montana State University dual-degree program in engineering, which began several years ago. The program receives tangential support from the USG as the students who are about to go on the U.S. segment of the program receive English instruction from a USG-funded English teaching assistant at the university. The State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo and the SUNY Maritime College also have degree programs in engineering with Istanbul Technical University and Izmir Economics University. Commercialization and Venture Capital -------------- ¶9. (SBU) One missing ingredient in the Turkish R&D cycle is the lack of infrastructure to commercialize new products or ideas. There are almost no venture capital funds operating in Turkey. Very few Turkish researchers have commercialized their discoveries in Turkey. Given the strength of the U.S. venture capital and intellectual-property-rights development system, this is an area ripe for bilateral cooperation and would be a direct follow up to President Obama's comments in Cairo about developing the R&D-innovation-commercialization cycle. SILLIMAN