The number of research and development (R&D) and design centers has reached 800, Science, Industry and Technology Minister Faruk Özlü said yesterday, noting that there are 109 design centers in 22 sectors in 14 provinces and 691 R&D centers in 38 sectors in 38 provinces.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) about R&D and design centers, Özlü said that concepts such as R&D and innovation gain more significance with every passing day. He underlined that countries that support the industry with effective R&D and design incentives are at the top of global competition.

Özlü said that incentives and exemptions provided under the Law on the Support of Research and Development Activities have great importance in terms of the formation of private sector R&D and design infrastructure in Turkey, adding, "In recent years, Turkey has been seriously spending on supporting R&D, innovation projects and innovative ideas through public and various other sources."

Underlining that R&D and design infrastructure has been established in Turkey under the scope of the law, Özlü said that large enterprises that employ a large number of R&D and design personnel and that contribute to the share of R&D and design in gross domestic products need to expand their efforts and should be enabled to produce their own technology.

Özlü further stated that approximately 44,000 R&D and design personnel are employed in R&D and design centers and that nearly 26,000 projects have been completed and that there are about 10,000 registered patents and patent applications.