Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Cahit Turhan in Turkey with the participation Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) and the Republic of Turkey State Railways (TCDD) in "Rail Transport Institute of Technology" cooperation protocol signing ceremony for the establishment In his speech, he expressed his satisfaction with the signing of the protocol.

UZ WE ARE TARGETING ATTACHING TECHNOLOGICAL INDEPENDENCE IN RAIL TRANSPORT 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. ” he spoke.

THE WAY TO TECHNOLOGICAL INDEPENDENCE

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 TUBITAK 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 TUBITAK”

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 GOALS ARE NEVER DREAMED”

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 have to emphasize this particularly. These goals I mentioned are never dreams. We have strong and innovative entrepreneurs in our country that can turn these targets into concrete products. See, In June 2018, a Turkish company exported subway wagons that it produced for the first time to Thailand. I hope this institute will provide strategic guidance to our similar entrepreneurs and help them. ” He completed his words.

NATIONAL AND NATIONAL RESOURCES

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Cahit Turhan pointed out that TUBITAK's theoretical knowledge and TCDD's historical field experience will be a great energy. 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. ” said.

LEADING COUNTRY ISSUING TECHNOLOGY

Explaining that an institutional cooperation will be established between the Institute and TCDD and TÜBİTAK, Turhan said, “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 the existing technological competence of our country is increased, the institute will become an institution that operates the railway technologies of the future. Hopefully, we will succeed in the design and production of National Electric Train Sets. Our next target is the production of High Speed ​​Train sets. As a nation, we firmly believe that we will experience that great enthusiasm. ” spoke in the form.

On the other hand, after the speeches, Prof. TÜBİTAK. 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. (Republic of Turkey Ministry of Industry and Technology)