What is the relationship between the 2030 Industry and Technology Strategy document and the National Technology Initiative (MTH)?
How is the general framework of the strategy document outlined?
What are the projects and programs developed in line with the objectives of the document?
What are the macro goals of the strategy document?
What are Turkey’s promising technological breakthroughs?
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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced the 2030 Industry and Technology Strategy document at the Presidential Complex on March 27, 2025.
What is the relationship between this strategy document and the National Technology Initiative (Milli Teknoloji Hamlesi - MTH)?
How has the general framework of the strategy document been outlined?
What are the projects and programs developed in line with the objectives of the strategy document?
What are the macro-level goals of the strategy?
What are Turkey’s promising technological breakthroughs?
1. What is the relationship between the 2030 Industry and Technology Strategy document and the National Technology Initiative (MTH)?
The policies implemented to protect Turkey’s national interests have often been met with restrictive and obstructive measures from other states and interest groups. In response to such factors—factors that threaten national security and restrict national will, as well as jeopardize policy development, implementation processes, and operational sustainability—Turkey launched the National Technology Initiative (Milli Teknoloji Hamlesi - MTH) as a strategic national technology movement.
MTH asserts Turkey’s commitment to localization, nationalization, and originality, aiming for full independence in science and technology. It contributes to preparing critical sectors—such as defense, energy, economy, education, and health—for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and beyond. The Fourth Industrial Revolution focuses on the advancement of existing digital technologies, including artificial intelligence applications.
In this context, the 2030 Industry and Technology Strategy document was prepared in line with the vision of the MTH, aiming to ensure independence in industrial production and technology, and to position Turkey as one of the leading countries in the production and export of high-tech products.
2. How is the general framework of the strategy document outlined?
The 2030 Industry and Technology Strategy is structured around five main objectives, encompassing 100 strategies and 20 macro-level goals. These core objectives are:
1. Increasing domestic production capacity in high technology and critical sectors, and eliminating foreign dependency
2. Enabling the transition to a digital economy, positioning Turkey as a global leader in the technological era
3. Facilitating the shift to a green and circular economy, with the aim of reducing industry-related carbon emissions
4. Enhancing integration into global markets and boosting international competitiveness
5. Addressing productivity, capacity, and scale challenges in the manufacturing industry, and increasing its resilience to crises and shocks
In line with these goals, Turkey aims to expand the export of national and locally produced technological products developed through its own resources and to replicate its defense industry success across other key sectors.
Industrialization steps directly contribute to increasing per capita income, and sustaining these efforts is essential for reaching the level of developed countries. Surpassing the OECD average in high-tech production and exports, and ranking among the world's top ten countries in manufacturing output, can only be achieved through a comprehensive transformation in science and technology. The 2030 Strategy represents a vital roadmap toward that transformation.
3. What are the projects and programs developed in line with the objectives of the strategy document?
The 2030 Industry and Technology Strategy, based on the vision of the National Technology Initiative (MTH), aims to enhance Turkey’s domestic and national production capacity, secure independence in strategic sectors, and achieve leadership in critical technologies. It focuses on transforming Turkey’s industrial and technological ecosystem into a high value-added, innovation-driven structure that has completed its digital and green transformation. Within this scope, 37 priority programs and projects have been developed: Technology-Oriented Industry Initiative Program, High-Tech Investment Program HIT-30, Game-Changing Power Elements in Defense: Next-Generation Aviation Platforms, Steel Dome, My First Car – Domestic Car Family Support Program, Autonomous Domestic Car, High-Speed Train Consortium, TÜBİTAK National Quantum Institute, National Chip Consortium, Moon Mission, Space Technopark, National Omics Platform, Technology and Innovation Fund, GO Startup Office, Biotechnology Production Program, Productive Universities – National Technology Workshops, Basic Science Research Leadership Program (TALİP), Reverse Brain Drain Program, Digital Turkish Lira, KOSGEB Digital Payment System, National Satellite Company, Regional Positioning and Timing System, Navigation System and Artificial Intelligence Applications, Artificial Intelligence Supercomputer Investment Program, Green and Digital Transformation Centers, National Hydrogen Program, Domestic Nuclear Reactors, Nuclear Technopark, Terminal Istanbul, Antarctic Polar Research Base, Spaceport and Independent Access to Space, Mega Industrial Parks, Ceyhan Petrochemical Industrial Zone, Employment Protection Program in Labor-Intensive Sectors, Strategic Investment Assurance, Local Development Initiative, and Industry and Technology Colleges. This approach, which includes numerous steps from nuclear and quantum technologies to the establishment of new technology funds and clusters, makes it possible to accelerate national income growth and converge with high-income countries. When these steps are examined, it becomes clear that particular importance is given to education. For instance, the Industry and Technology Colleges project will contribute to meeting the industry’s need for qualified human resources, facilitating companies’ access to young talent, and increasing innovation in the sector. In this regard, cooperation with universities will be achieved through the National Technology Workshops project. It should also be noted that the economic strength gained will contribute to the country’s international prestige. In this context, it must be emphasized that the steps to be taken in line with MTH are also emotionally significant for our nation. The disappointment caused by the failure of initiatives like the Devrim Cars project or the pioneering efforts of figures such as Vecihi Hürkuş and Nuri Demirağ is now being alleviated through new technological advancements.
4. What are the macro-level goals of the strategy document?
Examples of macro goals set out in the strategy document include increasing the manufacturing sector’s share of GDP from 21.25% to 23%, raising Turkey’s share of global manufacturing value added from 1.33% to 1.65%, boosting manufacturing exports from $247 billion to $400 billion, increasing the export-to-import coverage ratio in manufacturing to 105%, and raising R&D expenditures as a share of GDP from 1.42% to 2.20% by 2030.
In addition to these, the strategy document includes numerous targets related to R&D, human capital, the entrepreneurship ecosystem, and exports. For example, reflecting the emphasis placed on entrepreneurship, one key goal is to triple venture capital investments to reach $20 billion, and to increase the number of tech start-ups approximately ninefold, reaching 100,000.
These targets are designed to strengthen and energize Turkey’s innovation ecosystem, which is already notable for its technoparks, R&D centers, and design hubs. The realization of these goals is expected to expand the labor market, reduce unemployment, and support the emergence of new industrial sectors. Moreover, aligning these objectives with global climate policies is considered crucial for ensuring the sustainability of foreign trade.
5. What are Turkey’s promising technological breakthroughs?
The realization of the first manned space mission within the scope of the National Space Program, the launch of TÜRKSAT 6A—Turkey’s first national communication satellite produced with over 80% domestic components, the maiden flight of our fifth-generation fighter jet KAAN, the delivery of TOGG—Turkey’s first domestic electric and smart car—to consumers, and the organization of nine scientific expeditions to Antarctica and four to the Arctic, making Turkey’s presence in polar regions more visible. These major scientific and technological steps have contributed to building the infrastructure for productivity-based, industry-focused, and export-driven quality growth, reinforcing confidence that such progress can continue. All these advances have the potential to enhance Turkey’s competitiveness and serve as a driving force in policymaking.
