TİM Chairman Gültepe: “We Are Striving Toward $100 Billion in Medium- and High-Tech Product Exports.”
Speaking at Türkiye Innovation Week, the largest innovation gathering in Türkiye and the surrounding region, TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe stated, “We have doubled our high-tech product exports in the last decade. We are now working toward reaching $100 billion in medium- and high-tech product exports. Despite these achievements, we know there is still ground to cover, which is why we place great importance on Türkiye Innovation Week”.
Türkiye Innovation Week 2024 (TIW24), held under the auspices of the Türkiye Exporters Assembly and supported by the Ministry of Trade, opened its doors for the 11th time at the Haliç Congress Center. This year's event, centered around the theme “Out of the Box: Human, Culture, Model,” began with an opening speech by TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe.
Gültepe emphasized that Türkiye Innovation Week is the largest, most comprehensive, and dynamic innovation event in Türkiye and its neighboring region. “Since 2012, TİM has been working tirelessly to cultivate a competitive, sustainable ecosystem that nurtures original ideas. We are advancing steadily in the global innovation league. Twelve years ago, we ranked 74th, but today, we stand proudly in 37th place. With the creativity of our young minds, we continue to innovate and achieve groundbreaking advancements across all sectors through our National Technology Initiative,” he said.
Gültepe underscored that these developments are clearly reflected in the numbers. “Over the last ten years, we have doubled our high-tech product exports. We are now moving toward the $100 billion milestone in medium- and high-tech exports. Yet, despite these successes, we understand the distance we still need to cover, which is why Türkiye Innovation Week remains so important to us,” he stated.
“Every Day, We Strive to Think Beyond Conventional Boundaries”
“As TİM, we aim to strengthen our international collaborations and position Türkiye at the center of the global innovation ecosystem,” Gültepe remarked. “This year's theme, 'Out of the Box: Human, Culture, Model,' reflects our ambition. Our partner countries this year are the U.S., China, and Sweden—nations that rank among the top in global innovation. We have curated a comprehensive program with over 120 speakers and a variety of engaging panels. We've also organized enriching masterclasses, workshops, and solution-oriented group activities. Through these, we aim to provide participants with a deep exploration of the transformative power of innovation. In our Next Generation Zone, we actively support young entrepreneurs. Together with universities, we are enhancing cross-sector collaboration opportunities. For us, the greatest reward is seeing innovative ideas transform into commercial products. Our İnovaLİG competition has set a new record this year with 2,300 applications. Winners will receive their awards on Saturday from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Each day, the Turkish business world strives to break free from traditional molds,” he added.
Gültepe concluded his speech with a motivating message: “As part of the export community, we are here, we are ready, and we must succeed for every young person who wishes to realize their potential.”
Success Is Never a Coincidence
The first session of the event featured a world-renowned speaker. Mika Pauli Häkkinen, the legendary McLaren driver known as the “Flying Finn” and a two-time Formula 1 world champion, answered questions from Serhan Acar, Secretary General of the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation (TOSFED).
Häkkinen shared insights from his career journey and the process that led him to his two world championships, emphasizing that no success or victory comes by chance. “Achieving extraordinary goals requires more than individual talent,” he said:
“Throughout my racing career, I worked with an exceptional team—people who could be described as geniuses, speaking the same language as me and breaking the boundaries of creativity. Of course, having a great team is not enough; several factors need to align. You also need a leader who motivates the team and yourself under all circumstances. Leveraging the full potential of technology is essential. Additionally, you need financial backing to support all these efforts. But most importantly, you must work tirelessly and relentlessly. If someone aspires to be the best in their field, they must be prepared to work at least 10 hours a day,” Häkkinen advised.
Following the speeches, TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe toured the exhibition booths, engaging with entrepreneurs and companies to learn about their initiatives and projects.