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Türkiye’s total spending on research and development (R&D) increased by ₺274.3 billion ($8.4 billion) in 2024 to reach ₺651.8 billion ($19.9 billion), according to data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat).
The rise brought the country’s gross domestic R&D expenditure ratio to 1.46% of gross domestic product (GDP) based on a GDP of ₺44.6 trillion ($1.36 trillion), up from 1.39% in 2023, when the OECD-wide ratio of gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) stood at 2.7%.
Private enterprises—including both financial and non-financial companies—accounted for the largest share of total R&D spending at 64.8%, followed by higher education institutions at 30.9%. Government bodies and non-profit organizations collectively made up 4.3%. Personnel-related expenses represented the largest cost item, forming 59.5% of total R&D outlays.
When analyzed by funding sources, 53.8% of R&D expenditures were financed by the private sector, 30.4% by general government, 12.9% by universities, and 2.9% by foreign resources.
Measured in full-time equivalent terms, Türkiye employed 310,473 people in R&D positions in 2024. Of this total, 67.1% worked in the private sector, 30% in universities, and 2.9% in government or non-profit organizations. Women accounted for 34.2% of R&D staff, with the highest female participation rate observed in higher education (47.9%)
In terms of educational attainment, 39.9% of R&D staff held undergraduate degrees, 30.6% had doctorates or equivalent qualifications, and 20.3% possessed master’s degrees.
Among manufacturing firms engaged in R&D, companies in high-technology industries generated 46.9% of total R&D spending in the sector, amounting to ₺210.5 billion. Firms in medium-high technology fields followed with a 40.2% share, while medium-low and low-technology firms accounted for 8.2% and 4.7%, respectively.
The highest number of researchers—31,701—were employed by medium-high-technology manufacturers, while 22,093 worked in high-technology firms.
Indirect R&D incentives—such as tax credits and support mechanisms—made up 25.1% of private sector R&D expenditure in 2024, up from 14.8% in 2015. Over the same period, R&D spending by private companies grew from ₺11.2 billion to ₺422 billion.
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