TurkStat releases first biotechnology survey in Turkey

The survey, which was published for the first time with a press release, includes 2016-2018 results.

According to TurkStat, in Turkey, there were 347 enterprises active in biotechnology (produced goods or services and/or performed biotechnology R&D) in 2018. This was 341 in 2016 and 344 in 2017. While 257 enterprises engaged in key biotechnology activities (application of at least one biotechnology technique) were in 1-9 size group, 20 of them in 250+ in 2018.

The most common biotechnology technique was DNA/RNA

In 2018, enterprises active in biotechnology were used mostly "DNA/RNA" technique with 44.1%. This was followed by "process biotechnology techniques" with 28%, "cell and tissue culture and engineering" with 27.1% and "proteins and other molecules" with 25.1%.

Human health was in the first place among biotechnology applications

According to the objectives of biotechnology activities, 43.8% of enterprises engaged in biotechnology were use biotechnology for human health while 31.4% of them for agricultural biotechnology and 23.6% for environment in 2018.

Biotechnology R&D expenditure was 276 Million TL

Biotechnology R&D expenditure of enterprises active in biotechnology was 276 Million TL in 2018. This was 115 Million TL in 2016 and 310 Million TL in 2017. The share of biotechnology R&D expenditures in Business Enterprises sector R&D expenditures was 0.86%, 1.82% and 1.18% for 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Biotechnology employees was 1 412 in terms of full time equivalent

The number of biotechnology employees was 1 922 in 2018. It was 1 412 in terms of full time equivalent for the same period. Regarding educational level of these employees, 16% of them were doctoral or equivalent, 22.9% of them were master's or equivalent, 38.2% of them were bachelor's or equivalent, 5.9% of them were short-cycle tertiary education and 16.9% of them were secondary education and below in 2018.

The most significant barrier to biotechnology R&D was access to capital

According to the enterprises active in biotechnology, the most significant barrier to biotechnology R&D activities was "access to capital" with 60.5%. This was followed by "access to skilled human resources" with 52.2% and "supply of genetic resource from abroad" with 36.9%. Barriers to commercialize biotechnology products were "access to international markets" with 58.2%, "regulatory requirements" and "lack of distribution and marketing channels" with 54.8%. (ILKHA)