Objectives

The objective of OTS cooperation in Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (ISTI) is to foster joint research, innovation and industrial development, enhance digital and green transformation, and build a stronger innovation ecosystem to support sustainable growth and competitiveness across the Turkic region.

Framework

Ministerial and Working Group Meetings

• 1^st Ministerial and Working Group Meeting on ISTI was convened on 25-26 October 2024 in Istanbul, Türkiye, hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye.
  • The Ministers adopted the Istanbul Declaration, laying out a comprehensive agenda for cooperation in R&D, SMEs, innovation ecosystems, green and digital transformation, metrology, product safety, standardization, industrial property and space technologies.
  • An Implementation Plan was endorsed, establishing sub-working groups on the mentioned areas.
• 2^nd Ministerial Meeting on ISTI will be held in 2025 in Baku, Azerbaijan, continuing the implementation of the Istanbul Declaration and evaluating progress on the agreed Action Plan.

Projects

In line with the Istanbul Declaration (2024) and its Action Plan, the OTS is advancing practical cooperation in Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation through the following initiatives:

• Research & Development Collaboration – joint projects, sharing of expertise, and exploring funding mechanisms to support scientific and technological cooperation.
• Scientific Research and Fellowship – establishment of fellowship programs and student exchange activities among Member and Observer States.
• Artificial Intelligence & Digital Transformation in Industry – cooperation on AI applications and digital development programs for industrial production.
• Innovation Ecosystem Development – organization of TEKNOFEST and technology festivals across Member States, cooperation among technoparks, and youth-focused STI programs.
• Investment Fund and Entrepreneurship – facilitation of venture capital cooperation, partnerships for start-ups, and the creation of an “Investment and Trade Cooperation Platform.”
• SME Development – sharing of best practices such as Türkiye’s TEKMER model, joint activities on incentives for industrial SMEs, and follow-up of the OTS SME MoU.
• Metrology – training programs and the planned establishment of a Regional Metrology Organization of Turkic States (TURKMET).
• Product Safety – exchange of experience on compliance, market surveillance, inspection systems, and development of testing infrastructure.
• Standardization & Conformity Assessment – technical consultancy, laboratory cooperation, training, and projects to strengthen Halal quality infrastructure and unify standards.
• Industrial Collaboration & Property – cooperation in industrial zones, expert exchange on industrial property, guidelines on IPR, and the proposed Common Turkic Patent Organization (CTPO).
• Space Technologies – promotion of peaceful uses of space, exchange of expertise, joint capacity-building, and collaboration through the Space Technology Conferences (Türkiye 2024, Azerbaijan 2025).

The ISTI framework is a forward-looking cooperation platform, linking science and technology with industrial development across the Turkic World. The 2^nd Ministerial in Baku will serve to expand joint initiatives, adopt new projects, and deepen the integration of Member States and Observers in strategic technology sectors.