R&D and Innovation in Turkey- OpEd

R&D and Innovation in Turkey

If we translate all documents of the American NASA Space Agency into Turkish, then we bring all the space equipment to the vast Konya Plain, how long does it take to go to the Moon? Never? No.

What do we need more to accomplish that mission?

Do we have Research & Development (R&D) and Innovation works? How effective? Yes, we have R&D centers in some commercial private companies, in public institutions, and we have university techno centers. As of March 2018, we have 74 Techno-parks. These technoparks are obligatory to work at universities. Therefore they are established at university campuses. Researchers, academicians, students of the universities work there. They use university computer backbone. Most of companies come here to find educated qualified trained staff, to keep them at reasonable prices, to benefit from tax exemptions. Rents are at 10-25 USD per m2 per month.

In the last survey carried out in Ankara METU University Techno park, the advantage of being in Techno park is revealed that it is reversed. Corporations-institutions now come and stay in the Techno park "in order to be able to access and retain qualified human resources". Advantages of tax exemptions, fall into the second priority. There are scarce number qualified specialists in some areas. Those who go abroad for better financial returns. We can not keep them within the domestic company-organization with existing work conditions.

Moreover nowadays, the work that only one person can do is limited, everything has to be done by an expert team work.

Everybody wants incentives while doing R&D works. However incentives are misguided or misused practice in everywhere. Persons who need to receive incentives can not get proper incentives at the right time. Those close to political will receive incentives. The most of the time incentives are given for wrong projects. Incentives are always abused all over the world.

In our techno parks, 60-70% of works is on new software creation. Because you do not need anything other than a simple desktop PC computer and a person who knows computer technology. You do not need large laboratories or large manufacturing test shops for research. Everything starts from scratch around here. However, you should keep in mind that the innovations are built on the old working software.

The academicians and researchers who are working in techno-centers are in need of key softwares. They do not have to invent an iPhone or an intel chip so-called to rediscover America. You buy iPhone and look at your business. In our environment every researcher is rediscovering America. Moreover, there are local customs duties on foreign software purchases starting from 21%. There are a lot of procedures, approvals, red-tape.

Your writer works to advise on thermal power plant design software. By asking foreign consultant friends, we learn that there are no customs duties in Germany, in Italy, in most European countries for the purchase of design software. Not only for the techno parks, but also no customs tax is imposed for the normal commercial institutions. What happens if we do not take customs tax then? We suppose that we will see it as an opportunity to misuse and abuse the customs tax exemption incentive.

Students of Istanbul KadirHas University have a study for the project of thermal coal power plant design for domestic coal. Your writer commented that "Turkish coal will not work with CFB (circulating fluidized bed) technology". Because there is very large water content in the Turkish coal. This water is ice in winter and you are dealing with mud in the summer. Our coal is best to burn with "Pulverized coal burning technology with pre-drying upfront" which has proved its design by working continuously in our home plants for 30-40 years.

What equipment does the thermal power plant with this technology have? We do not choose these according to our expertise. The required equipment list is listed in American ASME and German norms. You need to pay to get the last valid standard or to access the website. There is 21% custom duty requirement to buy them.

Then you do not do the design - you can not, and let the strangers do on your behalf, they use the same software. You are dependent on them. You can not buy software that will make your own suitable design. You are always at the bottom step of ladder of your job. Everyone in our research centers are rediscovering the American in every investigation. While others are building colonies in America, we can not pass the first phase of business. We're wasting our time and resources. Our industry lives in a large-scale copying procedure. Only a few large local automotive companies have the ability to do R&D. The industry wants ready-made projects and ready-made orders, and if they do not receive, they are not interested in R&D studies.

In developed countries, R&D spending has reached to 4% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product), whereas Turkey has only reached to 1% in recent years. Most of the local R&D expenditures go to meaningless projects, non-commercial jobs, duplicate work. We definitely need a serious renewal of R&D works and innovations.

If we put all NASA all the facilities, documents, equipment in Turkey say in vast Konya plains, the travel to Moon can only be possible with "Team of expert research staff working harmoniously".

Do we have enough number of competent expert staff who are harmoniously working with each other? This is the second important question that needs to be answered in order to go to the Moon.

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Haluk Direskeneli, is a graduate of METU Mechanical Engineering department (1973). He worked in public, private enterprises, USA Turkish JV companies (B&W, CSWI, AEP), in fabrication, basic and detail design, marketing, sales and project management of thermal power plants. He is currently working as freelance consultant/ energy analyst with thermal power plants basic/ detail design software expertise for private engineering companies, investors, universities and research institutions. He is a member of ODTÜ Alumni and Chamber of Turkish Mechanical Engineers Energy Working Group.

This article is written for "EurasiaReview" web site release.

Ankara April 29, 2018

Falstaff in Istanbul Süreyya Opera House

Falstaff By Guiseppe Verdi

Playing At Istanbul Süreyya Opera House

The Istanbul State Opera and Ballet began to play on stage Guiseppe Verdi’s last masterpiece “Falstaff” opera. Your writer had no ticket on the last night, so he waited at the entrance of Süreyya opera on the evening of April 13 and purchased two tickets from an opera watchers group at the last minute.

The opera was based on William Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor” and “Henry IV”. Giuseppe Verdi’s last masterpiece” Falstaff “premiere started at the Kadikoy Sureyya Opera Theater on Saturday, April 7th.

The librettos of Falstaff, were written by Arrigo Boito. The opera was first performed in Milan in 1893. It is first on stage on our homeland. There is no overture music. The curtain opens and we find ourselves suddenly in the flow of events.

The work is known as one of the world’s toughest operas in terms of staging and musical work. the theme is in the 14th century England. Fatty Falstaff is one of the most entertaining characters created by Shakespeare. He is married and tries to seduce two good friends Alice Ford and Meg Page at the same time.

While writing the opera, Guiseppe Verdi, was deeply influenced by German composer Wagner. There are no easy-to-remember Italian melodies in this opera. The only melody you can mumble with is only in the last act. The opera is over and you are leaving the final curtain mumbling.

Renato Bonajuto is the stage director of the work. Opera is performed in Italian. Conductors Roberto Gianola and Can Okan alternate with the orchestra. The choreographer is Paolo Villa. Decor design by Efter Bronze, costume design by Ayşegül Alev, light design realized by Yakup Çartık.

Işık Belen, Kevork Tavityan, Caner Akgün, Alper Göçeri, Murat Güney, Caner Akın, Ahmet Baykara, Çağrı Köktekin, Can Reha Gün, Engin Yavuz, Göktuğ Alpaşar, Ali Haydar Taş, Şebnem Ağrıdağ, Ayşe Sezerman, Deniz Yetim, Dilruba Akgün, Özgecan Gençer, Sevim Zerenaoğlu, Aylin Ateş , Deniz Likos, Nesrin Gönüldağ, Barbora Fritscher Hitay, Elif Tuğba Tekışık, are performing alternately in this opera.

We see four beautiful young women on stage. Farsifall character was performed unique. The male characters were playing with great fun. The staging was brought to the end of the 19th century. Decor was balanced, with room wide open for play, the costumes were beautifully designed. At the last act, stage was very crowded.

We understand that the work has been rehearsed hard, nothing to leave to improvise during the staging. Each mimic, motion, play was very carefully pre-tailored.

The Falstaff opera is being performed on 10, 11, 13, 14, 21, 24 and 25 April. At the entrance gate you may always purchase a return ticket. In Süreyya opera, an incredibly beautiful work is staged and it is absolutely recommended to watch.

Ankara, 14 April 2018

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Haluk Direskeneli, is a graduate of METU Mechanical Engineering department (1973). He worked in public, private enterprises, USA Turkish JV companies (B&W, CSWI, AEP), in fabrication, basic and detail design, marketing, sales and project management of thermal power plants. He is currently working as freelance consultant/ energy analyst with thermal power plants basic/ detail design software expertise for private engineering companies, investors, universities and research institutions. He is a member of ODTÜ Alumni and Chamber of Turkish Mechanical Engineers Energy Working Group.

https://www.operabale.gov.tr/

This article is written for "EurasiaReview" web page.

La Forza Del Destino, Opera by Giuseppe Verdi

"La Forza Del Destino" (The Power of Fate)

Opera by Giuseppe Verdi in İzmir Alhambra Opera Theater

The four-act "La Forza Del Destino" (The Power of Fate) opera composed by Giuseppe Verdi's was ordered by the Petersburg palace orchestra. World premier was in Bolshoi Kamenny theater in Saint Petersburg in 1862, later in 1877 in Istanbul and in 1964 in Ankara State Opera. The story tells of the Inca man who fell in love with a beautiful girl of a aristocrat, beginning with the desire to kidnap the girl and ending tragically. Written in Spanish as a theater work, it has become an opera masterpiece with dramatic fiction. The music is amazingly beautiful.

During the 2018-2019 season, this opera will be on stage in England's "Royal Opera House". The main roles are played by Anna Netrebko and Jonas Kaufmann.

This magnificent opera will now be performed at 03 (Premier) - 05-12- 14 May 2018 on the Izmir Alhambra opera house.

Orchestra Conductor is Tulio Gagliardo, Stage Director Avin Atik.

In the Leonore role, Burçin Çiligir, Nur Ayşe Tek and Feryal Türkoğlu will alternate to the stage. Don Carlo di Varga, will be played by Nejad Begde, Ibrahim Gökhan Tamer Peker, and Don Alvaro character by Lorenzo Mok Arranz, Oguz Cimen, Levent Gündüz and Aydın Uştuk.

This magnificent performance would not be missed. Audiences are already flying from Ankara and Istanbul to Izmir for this opera.

Tickets at the Izmir Alhambra show are on sale online at 10:00 am one month in advance. After the box office sales, there is not much room left in the internet ticket. The tickets are sold on the same day. If you go to Opera-Ballet ticket box office in the morning, you can get your ticket directly between 09-10 hours in the morning with cash money or credit card.

Ankara, 11 April 2018

This article is written for "Odtu Alumni Bulletin".