Turkey is reaping the rewards of its investments in R&D and innovation under the National Technology Initiative. According to 2022 R&D data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) and the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), Türkiye's total R&D expenditure increased by 95 percent compared to the previous year, reaching 198 billion 670 million TL.
This figure corresponds to 1.32 percent of Gross Domestic Product. In the last 21 years, R&D spending has increased tenfold, rising from $1.2 billion in 2002 to $12 billion in 2022.
In R&D expenditures, the private sector was the primary driver with 61.4%, while higher education accounted for 33.8% and the public sector for 4.8%. 54.4% of R&D expenditures by the private sector were made in R&D centers. 49.1% of R&D expenditures in the manufacturing industry were carried out by enterprises engaged in high-technology activities.
Türkiye's performance in science and research has also been reflected in international reports. The 2023 Country Report published by the European Commission stated that Türkiye's level in science and research is advanced and that it continues the progress it has made in recent years.
The number of R&D personnel in Türkiye has increased tenfold in the last 21 years, reaching 272,638. 63.3% of R&D personnel work in the private sector, 33.2% in higher education, and 3.5% in the public sector. The percentage of female R&D personnel is 34.1%.
Detailed information, graphs, and tables regarding 2022 R&D data can be accessed on the websites of TÜİK (Turkish Statistical Institute) and TÜBİTAK (Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council).
