Türkiye’s R&D spending on space soars 146-fold in decade
The country's first space traveler Alper Gezeravcı (R) successfully completed his spacecraft training, Ankara, Türkiye, Jan. 5, 2024. (AA Photo)
Türkiye’s overall R&D expenditures have increased 13-fold over the last ten years, reaching ₺98.7 billion ($4.14 billion) in 2023, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat).
Focus on space exploration
One of the most striking increases is in the field of space exploration, where R&D spending has ballooned 146-fold. The budget allocation for this sector rose from just over ₺9 million ($4.7 million) in 2013 to nearly ₺1.5 billion ($63 million) in 2023, with projections suggesting it will surpass ₺2.2 billion ($65 million) in 2024.
Agriculture and education investments
The agricultural sector has also seen substantial growth in R&D funding, with budget expenditures rising from ₺128 million ($67 million) in 2013 to almost ₺4 billion ($168.1 million) in 2023—a 30-fold increase. In education, R&D spending has jumped approximately 49-fold, from ₺61 million ($31.9 million) in 2013 to ₺3 billion ($126.1 million) in 2023.
Cultural and social fields
R&D investments in culture, entertainment, religion, and mass communication have seen an 18-fold increase, growing from ₺2 million ($1.1 million) in 2013 to ₺33 million ($1.4 million) in 2023. This expansion reflects a broadening of Türkiye’s focus on diverse areas of innovation and development.
Currency context
The sharp increase in R&D spending is also contextualized by the fluctuating exchange rate, which saw the USD/TRY rate rise from 1.91 in 2013 to 33.5 in 2023. These shifts have played a significant role in shaping budget allocations across various sectors.
