After the chip crisis, which affected almost everything from electronics to automobiles, countries entered an intense research and investment process to establish their own production facilities. While Taiwan is the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to chip, there has been a pleasing development in our country. Between TUBITAK and Qatar Hamad Bin Khalifa University Establishment of Turkey’s domestic and national chip production facility cooperation agreement was signed.
Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank, In 12 months, 65 nanometer chips will be produced for the first time in Turkey. He said, “This will be a facility where the critical components needed by the two countries are produced and presented to the market. With the technological solutions it has developed, it will contribute to our national product, reducing the current account deficit and employment. We will make Turkey a producer of critical technologies.”
Pointing out that the global market size of the chip industry has reached 600 billion dollars, Minister Varank said, “Today, almost every device in our house has a chip. The average car has more than 1000 chips. In fact, we are now walking around with wearable chips. And their number is increasing day by day. By 2030, the chip market size will approach 1.5 trillion dollars” he said.
Chip production facility is critical to national security
Underlining that the chip industry is also of critical importance in terms of national security, Minister Varank said:
“Therefore, especially developed countries are announcing their new roadmaps for the chip industry one by one. European Commission last yearEuropean Chip Law‘ he approved. It mobilized $47 billion of public and private investment to increase its global market share in the chip industry.
Likewise, the USA approved the chip law in order to ensure supply security in the chip industry and reduce dependence on the Far East. It commissioned the 52 billion dollar incentive. We, as Turkey, are now investing in the right technologies, just in time, under the guidance of the National Technology Move.
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We can design and manufacture the strategic chips needed by our defense industry companies at TUBITAK. The export value of these photodetector chips, which the defense industry needs, is 388 thousand dollars per kilogram. There is great added value here. There is an opportunity for our country.”
Chip production will begin in 12 months
Minister Varank explained that the machines with a value of 30 million dollars required for the establishment of the chip production line will be provided by Hamad Bin Khalifa University;
“TÜBİTAK BİLGEM, on the other hand, will be responsible for the construction of the clean rooms, the installation of machines brought from Qatar and the operation of the facility. Hopefully, we will start 65 nm chip production for the first time in Turkey within 12 months after the machinery equipment is brought to the Gebze campus.
This will be a facility where the critical components needed by the two countries are produced and marketed. With the technological solutions it has developed, it will contribute to our national product, reducing the current account deficit and employment.”
600 million lira chip design support
Minister Varank stated that the design of chips with domestic and national means is as important as the production, and announced that a support call will be made by the Istanbul Development Agency on this issue.
Stating that with this 3-year program, 600 million liras will be provided to chip design companies that employ less than 5 designers, Minister Varank said that 100 million liras will be provided to universities that carry out qualified R&D activities and train human resources in this field.
Minister Varank said that the “Pre-Competitive Cooperation Projects Call” with a budget of 270 million liras will be opened in order to deepen the sector, and that large companies in need of chips and chip design companies will be brought together with this call.
Emphasizing that their goal as the Ministry is to make the country a global base in value-added and high-tech production, Varank said,We will continue to be the biggest supporter of our entrepreneurs who invest, produce and provide employment. We will make Turkey a producer of critical technologies, not a market. Rest assured, we will be talking about the new technologies developed in the facilities we opened today, in the years to come. I wish that these investments, which will carry Turkey to a higher league in global competition, will be beneficial for our country and nation in advance.” he said.
“We have both competence and infrastructure”
TUBITAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, emphasizing that the chip issue is a critical issue on the world’s agenda;
“Turkey actually has the infrastructure for chips. We have had this competence in Turkey through our YİTAK (semiconductor technologies research laboratory) since 1983, and at the same time, we have the competence and infrastructure to meet the needs of our country’s defense industry, albeit limited, since the early 2010s.
I want to express this in particular. Because Competency is important. Because it doesn’t matter much to have infrastructure without competence. That’s why we have the YİTAL laboratory where our competence and infrastructure is located here.” used the phrases.
Qatar Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmad M. Hasnah also expressed his satisfaction with this cooperation and pointed to the importance of the facility.
After the speeches, TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal and Hamid Bin Khalife University Rector Prof.Dr. A chip manufacturing plant cooperation protocol was signed by Ahmad M. Hasnah.
Then, Marmara Technokent IDEA Incubation Center, which offers a very modern working environment to entrepreneurs, was opened.