What Is a Technopark?

As an organized research and business center, where academic, economic and social infrastructure meets, Technopark hosts universities, research institutions and industrial enterprises together in the same environment and facilitates them to do research, development and innovation activities through mutual transfer of know-how and technology for the sake of realizing value-added products.

According to the definition by the International Association of Science Parks (IASP), it is an enterprise that is in either an official or activity-based relationship with one or more university or higher education institution and research centers; and embodies a management function with specialized professionals, whose main aim is to increase the wealth of its community by promoting the culture of innovation and the competitiveness of its associated businesses and knowledge-based institutions.

While Technopark (technopole) concept is mainly used in France, these entities are referred to as “Research Park” in United States, as “Science Park” in the UK and as “Science City” or “Technology City” in the Far East. In the Technology Development Zones Law No. 4691, only one concept, “Technology Development Zone” is used.

 

What is Technology Development Zones Law No. 4691?

Technology development zone accommodates high-tech companies that make use of the infrastructure of a high technology institute or a R&D center/institute in vicinity, for the sake of producing/developing technology or software. In the zone, these companies may also operate to commercialize an existing high-tech invention into a product, a method or a service. Technology development zone represents a site or a technopark, which is physically in proximity with, or located in the land of a high technology institute or a R&D center/institute, and which aggregates the academic, economic and social frame and it is characterized to contribute to the development of the region’s commonwealth.

For the purpose of providing national industry with an internationally competitive infrastructure having export potential, technology development zones aim to create technology know-how; to innovate products or production methods; to elevate product quality and standards; to improve efficiency; to decrease production costs; to commercialize technology; to promote technology intense production and entrepreneurship; to adapt SMEs to new and advanced technologies; to create investment opportunities in technology intensive fields with regard to the decisions made by Science and Technology Higher Council; to create employment for researchers and qualified workforce; to facilitate technology transfer and to provide the technological infrastructure that will accelerate the inflow of foreign capital, by facilitating the cooperation of universities, research institutions and institutes with the industry.