Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Faruk Özlü stated that the United Nations (UN) General Assembly approved the establishment of the International Technology Bank in Turkey, with the aim of strengthening the science, technology and innovation capacities of the least developed countries, and said, "The headquarters is in Turkey." The bank will start its activities next year under the leadership of the United Nations (UN) and the coordination of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK). "It will guide the least developed countries, the number of which has reached 48, in the processes of establishing scientific and technological cooperation and intellectual property infrastructure," he said.
Reminding that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced a commitment package for the least developed countries at the United Nations (UN) Least Developed Countries (LDC) Conference, which he attended in 2011, during his term as Prime Minister, Özlü said that one of the commitments in the fields of science and technology was included in the package. He said that the aim is to establish an international center that will act as a "technology bank" for the countries in question.
The Bank Has Two Basic Pillars
Pointing out that the International Technology Bank and TÜBİTAK, which will be established for the least developed countries, approximately half of which are Muslim countries, will play an important role in the work to be carried out for these countries, Minister Özlü said that with the role Turkey has assumed in the Eight Developing Countries (D-8), the International Technology Bank He pointed out that hosting the Bank will trigger the establishment of cooperation between the least developed countries and D8 countries. Minister Özlü said, "This will have an important share in the process of sharing the technologies developed by D8 countries with the least developed countries and establishing collaborations that will provide benefits to all partners."
Stating that it was decided that the International Technology Bank would consist of two main pillars, Özlü gave the following information: “One of them is the Science, Technology and Innovation Support Mechanism; The other one was announced as the Intellectual Property Bank. Through these mechanisms, the Bank will guide 48 least developed countries in the processes of establishing scientific and technological cooperation and intellectual property infrastructure. "The '2030 Sustainable Development Goals' announced by the UN will be the focus of the work to be carried out by the International Technology Bank," he said.
It is planned to be established at TÜBİTAK TÜSSİDE Campus
Minister Özlü said the following about the functioning of the International Technology Bank, which is planned to be established on the TÜBİTAK Turkey Industrial Management Institute (TÜSSİDE) campus in Gebze:
“The most critical function of the International Technology Bank will be capacity building. When the bank becomes operational, a 'needs analysis' will be conducted for the least developed countries and services will be provided in line with their deficiencies. These countries will be provided with training and support on the development and implementation of science and technology policies and the establishment of governance mechanisms. "A solution to the intellectual property obstacle faced by countries will be found with the Intellectual Property or Patent Bank, one of the components of the bank."
Özlü pointed out that another function of the bank is "facilitating access to international scientific publications" and drew attention to TÜBİTAK's role in this process. Underlining the need to conduct joint research with the countries in question and work together on needed issues, Özlü said, “TÜBİTAK already funds scientific collaborations. This will be the most ideal model in the future. "Our biggest goal is for Turkey to contribute to these important efforts to reduce income inequality and large differences in development levels in the world," he said.
