Turkey boosts R&D spending to $20B amid push for defense self-sufficiency

Turkey’s national R&D spending hit $20 billion in 2024, up from $16 billion the year before, with nearly half going to high-tech sectors including defense and aerospace. The uptick highlights Ankara’s push to strengthen its military-industrial base, even as experts warn that broader innovation challenges remain.

Turkey is pouring billions into R&D, with defense and aerospace leading the charge, as it seeks to turn its military‑industrial base into a leading industry player. Broader investments in machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and agriculture aim to cut imports and boost exports, but experts warn that limited resources, reliance on foreign technology and stiff global competition could curb the impact of these efforts.

Turkey’s minister of industry and technology, Mehmet Fatih Kacir, announced on Oct. 26 that the country's R&D expenditures increased from $16 billion in 2023 to $20 billion in 2024, with the private sector covering nearly 65% of that figure.

He added that while nearly 47% of R&D spending went to high-tech industries, including defense and aerospace, another roughly 40% went to “mid-level” technology, which includes many fields Turkey is still quite competitive in, such as chemicals, machinery and construction.