In Ankara, one of the important centers of the Turkish defense industry with its production and R&D capabilities, two clusters in the sector have decided to collaborate. A broad-ranging protocol, from joint project development to supply chain management, was signed between the OSTİM Defense and Aerospace Cluster Association (OSSA) and the Teknokent Defense Industry Cluster (TSSK). The Project Market, organized for the third time this year by TSSK, brought together key actors in the defense industry sector, SMEs, academics, and NGOs. Held under the auspices of the Undersecretariat of Defense Industry (SSM), with the support of TÜBİTAK, and in collaboration with Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ), ODTÜ Technopark, Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO), and the Defense and Aerospace Industry Manufacturers Association (SaSaD), the event featured over 40 institutions and organizations, with OSSA and Ostim Technopark also participating with stands.
At the opening of the Project Market held at the METU Culture and Congress Center, METU Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Acar, ASO General Secretary Assoc. Dr. Yavuz Cabbar, and SSM Deputy Undersecretary Dr. Celal Sami Tüfekçi each gave speeches sharing their views on the sector.
“Our collaboration with OSSA continues”
METU Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Acar emphasized that the defense industry holds special importance for Ankara and METU. Acar explained that the large companies shaping the sector, as well as the supporting SMEs, are clustered in Ankara.
Underlining the significant contributions of the companies in the cluster in terms of software, hardware, and systems to ANKA, the first medium-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle; ATAK, the country's first attack and tactical reconnaissance helicopter; ALTAY, the first modern tank; MİLGEM, the first national ship; and Göktürk, the first high-resolution earth observation satellite, Rector Acar said, "As a university, we have departments that contribute to the development of the defense industry. Through our Technopark campus in OSTİM, our cooperation with OSSA, which is under the management of OSTİM, continues."
ASO Secretary General Yavuz Cabbar defined the most important feature that distinguishes the defense industry from other industries as the existence of the Undersecretariat of Defense Industry, which organizes, organizes, directs, and in a sense, acts as its patron.
A new offset directive is being prepared
Deputy Undersecretary of the Undersecretariat of Defense Industries, Dr. Celal Sami Tüfekçi, stated that when looking at countries with developed defense industries, a certain level of development has generally been achieved in all industrial sectors. Reminding that clustering is an important development tool in developed countries, Tüfekçi pointed out that this concept came to the forefront in our country in the mid-1990s.
Pointing out that clusters in our country have begun to achieve significant results in less than 10 years with very limited resources, the experienced bureaucrat said: “However, I would like to say that in the later stages, it would be beneficial for our sector if our organizations took a more active role in ensuring effective international representation and coordinating joint work between companies. Taking into account the stage the sector has reached and the experience we have gained, we have started working on preparing a new industrial participation-offset directive. In the relevant directive amendment, we foresee a number of changes to support our domestic defense industry and especially our SMEs more effectively. We believe in the capabilities and dynamism of SMEs.”
The interaction between OSSA and TSSK will develop Following the talks, a cooperation protocol was signed between OSSA and TSSK. The protocol was signed by Mithat Ertuğ, Chairman of the Board of Directors of OSSA, and Fatih Ünal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of TSSK.
Under the protocol, the two clusters agreed to work together and to mobilize all their capabilities and resources mutually for this purpose. The protocol also includes joint activities such as development and promotion activities in the defense and aerospace sector, industry visits to increase cooperation among cluster members, B2B meetings, and the transfer of information on supply chains between companies.
The protocol also aims to foster cooperation in areas such as: joint research and development and contributions to the aviation and defense sector; establishing an organic collaboration system through information sharing; developing joint research projects (European Union projects, etc.); mutual news sharing on cluster activities on the websites of both clusters; updating information on cluster members (service and collaboration opportunities and contact information); and sharing information on foreign investments and joint investments.
“We will embark on important projects” Following the signing ceremony, TSKK Board Chairman Ünal shared the following views: “We have signed a cooperation protocol with OSSA, which is successfully carrying out cluster activities. We will reinforce a series of activities that will increase synergy and cooperation between two clusters that can complement each other. Hopefully, together with other players in the defense industry, we will embark on important projects.”
“It will increase our synergy” OSSA Chairman Ertuğ also stated that the protocol would increase synergy, saying, “I think we have achieved even better developments. I wish it to be beneficial and auspicious for our country.”
OSSA Coordinator Hilal Ünal stated that the aim of the protocol is to increase the localization rate in the defense and aerospace sectors by developing cooperation among SMEs and to enable SMEs to have a voice in the international market in these sectors. Noting that the localization rate in subsystems is very low, Ünal stated that OSSA and TSSK members will bid for these subsystems together and will take the necessary steps in this regard jointly.
ABOUT OSSA OSSA, which has defined its vision as "increasing the share of domestic production in meeting the needs of the defense and aerospace sectors," aims to make its member companies competitive in the international market. Founded in 2007, OSSA serves as an effective interface between SMEs and government institutions, a significant support mechanism for SMEs in consulting, business development, and promotion, a platform that produces common solutions to the common problems of SMEs, the shortest way for original equipment manufacturers to reach more subcontractors, a gateway for SMEs working in the sector to enter international markets, a reliable partner for R&D projects of universities and research centers, and the most up-to-date sectoral database for government institutions and original equipment manufacturers. The cluster has 161 members and more than 7500 employees.
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