While the share of GERD in GDP was 1.06% in 2019, it was realized as 1.09% of 5 trillion 46 billion 883 million TRY GDP in 2020, according to the statement.

The most R&D expenditure was in financial and non-financial corporations

The financial and non-financial corporations had the largest share in R&D expenditures with 64.8%, followed by higher education with 28.4%. The share of general government R&D expenditures, including R&D expenditures made by the private non-profit sector, in total R&D expenditures was 6.8%. Among the R&D expenditures, personnel expenditures constituted the largest expenditure item with 52.8%.

Financial and non-financial corporations ranked first with 57.2% in R&D funding in 2020

The share of R&D expenditure funded by financial and non-financial corporations was 57.2% of GERD in 2020. This was followed by the general government by 28.4%, higher education by 12.3%, foreign funds by 2.0%, and other national sources by 0.1% respectively.

199 thousand 371 R&D personnel were employed in terms of full-time equivalent (FTE)

The total number of FTE R&D personnel was 199 thousand 371 in 2020. Regarding FTE R&D personnel distribution by sectors, 65.3% was employed in financial and non-financial corporations, 29.9% was employed in higher education and 4.7% was employed in general government including private non-profit sector as well in 2020.

The ratio of female R&D personnel was 31.9% in terms of full-time equivalent

The total number of female FTE R&D personnel was 63 thousand 655 in 2020 which constitutes 31.9% of total FTE R&D personnel. When the sectors were taken into consideration, the ratio of female FTE R&D personnel in financial and non-financial corporations was 26.0%. This was followed by the general government including the private non-profit sector by 30.1% and higher education by 45.1%.

32.1% of R&D personnel have a doctorate or equivalent education status

It was observed that 33.1% of the R&D personnel had a bachelor level or equivalent. This was followed by doctorate or equivalent with 32.1%, master or equivalent level with 24.6%, short-cycle tertiary education level with 5.1% and upper secondary education level and below with 5.1%. When the FTE R&D personnel were analyzed by education levels, bachelor level ranked first with 45.7%. This was followed by master or equivalent level with 21.4%, doctorate and equivalent level with 19.0%, short-cycle tertiary education level with 7.2% and upper secondary education level with 6.8%.

The highest R&D expenditure was in TR51 (Ankara) Region

According to Statistical Regions (SR) Level 2, R&D expenditure in 2020 was the highest in TR51 (Ankara) region with 32.5%, this region was followed by TR10 (İstanbul) region by 25.6% and TR42 (Kocaeli, Sakarya, Düzce, Bolu, Yalova) region by 10.6%.

According to number of R&D personnel, TR10 (İstanbul) region was in the first place with 29.0% share. This region was followed by TR51 (Ankara) region with 19.3% and TR42 (Kocaeli, Sakarya, Düzce, Bolu, Yalova) region with 7.7%.

55.9% of R&D expenditures of financial and non-financial corporations were made in R&D centers

55.9% of the 35 billion 623 million TRY R&D expenditures made by financial and non-financial corporations in 2020 was realized in R&D centers. When the enterprises that are conducting R&D activities in R&D centers were analyzed according to the number of employees, it was seen that 85.2% of the R&D expenditures made in R&D centers were made by enterprises with 250 or more employees.

Most of the R&D expenditure was made by enterprises with hi-tech activities

When the enterprises that carry out R&D activities in the manufacturing industry are classified according to their technology levels, it was seen that 44.7% of the 20 billion 333 million TRY R&D expenditures made in the manufacturing industry in 2020 was made by the enterprises involved in high technology activities. This rate was 35.3% in 2015. Of the total R&D expenditure in the manufacturing industry, 40.4% was made by enterprises in medium-high technology activity, 9.2% by enterprises in medium-low technology activity, and 5.7% by enterprises in low-tech activity.

Distribution of R&D expenditures in the manufacturing industry by technology level, 2009-2020

When the number of researchers in the enterprises carrying out R&D activities in the manufacturing industry was examined, it was seen that the highest number of researchers were employed by enterprises carrying out medium-high technology activities with 21 thousand 206 people in 2020. This was followed by the employment of 14 thousand 657 researchers by enterprises carrying out high-tech activities. When the number of researchers in terms of Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) is taken into account, it was seen that the highest number of researchers were employed by enterprises carrying out medium-high technology activities with 19 thousand 298.