TÜSİAD hosted British Minister of State for Universitites and Science

In September 2011, a treaty of “Knowledge Partnership” had been signed between Turkish and British governments, by the initiative of the British Council, the UKTI (UK Trade and Investment) and SIN (Science and Innovation Network) with the purpose of developing cooperation between two countries in higher education, science, technological research, innovation, entrepreneurship and industry. Within the context of this treaty TÜSİAD hosted a meeting on April 3rd, 2012, at the Pera Palas Hotel in Istanbul.

The meeting to discuss the policies to improve university-industry relations was opened with the addresses of Ms. Ümit Boyner, President of the Board of Directors of TÜSİAD and Mr. David Willetts, British Minister of State for Universities and Science. In the meeting the topic of university-industry relations is covered both from the viewpoint of developing R&D and innovation capacity and the viewpoint of enhancing the relation between education and employment.

Ms. Boyner reminded that a sustainable economic development requires an enhanced innovation capacity, and she stated that “the access to the financial resources must be facilitated for the entrepreneurs and SMEs based on technology and innovation.” She underlined that Turkey has a young population, and in a competitive era only education can transform the young population to a well qualified labor force. Ms. Boyner concluded by emphasizing that TÜSİAD attach a great importance to the education for the economic development.

Representatives of various British universities accompanying Mr David Willetts, British Minister of State for Universities and Science, TÜSİAD members and representatives of a number of Turkish universities which have  university-industry partnership programs attended to the meeting.