The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) and the Republic of Turkey State Railways (TCDD), between the "Institute of Rail Transport Technologies" signed a cooperation protocol on the establishment. In his speech at the signing ceremony held, Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank stated that “The Rail Transport Technologies Institute will be established in Gebze with approximately 100 experts at the first stage, at the TÜBİTAK MAM Energy Institute. Stating that TCDD will also work at Ankara facilities and that it is foreseen to reach 500 R&D personnel, Varank stated that it aims to achieve technological independence in the rail transportation sector.

Stating that they emphasized the importance of rail systems in the 11 Industry and Technology Strategy prepared within the framework of the 2023th Development Plan, Varank said, “We also included the rail systems in the 'priority product group that will encourage domestic production' in our technology-oriented industrial move program. The Ministry of Transport plans to invest 15 billion euros in this sector, including infrastructures, over the next 70 years. Even this amount alone shows us how critical the use of domestic and national resources in rail systems is. ” Varank, signed protocol is an important step towards technological independence to capture attention, "Our goal as Turkey, rail catch of technological independence in the transport sector. The cooperation protocol to be signed today will be an important milestone on the road to this independence. With this protocol, we are establishing an institute with the partnership of TÜBİTAK and TCDD. Thus, not only the user with the contribution of the private sector, we want to be a Turkey which exports technology that meets their needs and develop. " said.

“R&D Projects Will Be Carried Out By TÜBİTAK”

Explaining that they have examined successful examples in the world for this, Varank continued: “We have seen that specialist national institutions play a key role in breakthroughs in transportation technologies. Therefore, we are designing a similar model as the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the Ministry of Transport. In the first place, we are establishing the Rail Transport Technologies Institute in Gebze with approximately 100 experts at TÜBİTAK MAM Energy Institute. Later, works will be carried out in Ankara facilities of TCDD. We anticipate to reach 500 R&D personnel. Thus, R&D projects will be carried out by qualified researchers to be employed by TÜBİTAK. The administrative and advisory boards of the institute will be composed of representatives of TUBITAK and TCDD. In order to increase the competence of TCDD, institution staff will also be given the opportunity to conduct academic studies. ”

“These Targets Are Never A Dream”

Ministers Varank, the first with the establishment of institutes of Turkey's needed railway technology will be designed with local and national resources, to conduct technology transfer agreements with these institutes and also said here that the development of future rail technology. Underlining that the goals set out are realistic, Varank said, “I should especially emphasize this. These goals I mentioned are never dreams. We have strong and innovative entrepreneurs in our country that can turn these targets into concrete products. Bakın, For the first time in June 2018, a Turkish company exported subway wagons that it produced to Thailand. Hopefully, this institute will make strategic guidance to our similar entrepreneurs and will help them. ”

“With Collaboration, Our Country Will Become the Leading Country in Technology Exports on Rail Transport”

Our Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Cahit Turhan said that with the cooperation established between the two institutions, our country will become a leading country exporting technology in rail transportation. Minister Turhan stated that in this context, the institute will primarily design the railway technologies needed by our country with national and domestic facilities, and execute technology transfer agreements. "After increasing the current technological competence of our country, the institute will become an institution that operates the railway technologies of the future," said Turhan.

“The Cooperation of TUBITAK and TCDD Will Create a Great Energy”

Minister Turhan stated that the Rail Transport Technologies Institute, which will be established with the cooperation of TCDD-TÜBİTAK, will make a great contribution to all these studies and added, “The theoretical knowledge of TUBITAK, the historical field experience of TCDD will undoubtedly create a great energy. Rail transport is needed to this alliance. Because with the increase in railway investments in our country, the total road length and the number of rail vehicles are increasing rapidly. With this increase, the development of the products we need with local and national resources has become increasingly critical and strategic. ” he spoke. Considering that an investment of 2035 billion Euros will be made with infrastructure investments until 70, Turhan emphasized that the importance of technological independence in the rail transportation sector will be understood much better. made with. In this sense, we are taking a step 'small for today and very big for the future' with the protocol to be signed. Hopefully, an institutional cooperation between TCDD and TÜBİTAK will be established and our country will become a leading country exporting technology in rail transportation. In this context, the institute will primarily design the railway technologies needed by our country with national and domestic facilities and will execute technology transfer agreements. After increasing the current technological competence of our country, the institute will become an institution that works on the railway technologies of the future. ” Minister Turhan wished the Railway Transport Technologies Institute to the country.

After the speeches, TUBITAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal and TCDD General Manager Ali İhsan Uygun signed the cooperation protocol on the establishment of the "Rail Transport Technologies Institute". After the signatures, a souvenir photo was taken.