The internship program, which was launched by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) in 2023, in partnership with TUSAŞ, under the name 'SKY Global Türk', is continued under the name 'Turkey Internships Program' with the participation of other defense industry companies.
In 2026, 109 interns from 11 countries were accepted to the program carried out together with TUSAŞ, ASELSAN, HAVELSAN, ROKETSAN and STM. Within the scope of the program, 'Türkiye Internships Vision Talks' program was organized at YTB campus. To the program; Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, YTB President Abdulhadi Turus, TÜBITAK President Orhan Aydın, ROKETSAN General Manager Murat İkin, Engineer Ergün Kırlıkovalı and students attended.
'WE ARE A COUNTRY WITH ANNUAL DEFENSE INDUSTRY EXPORTS OF OVER 11 BILLION DOLLARS'
Speaking at the program, Minister Kacır said, "While Turkey was a country that could only spend 1.2 billion dollars in research and development annually about 20 years ago, it is now a country that carries out R&D activities of more than 20 billion dollars a year, and while it had an R&D human resource of only 29 thousand people in those years, it is now a country with over 310 thousand R&D human resources. While it was a country where 56 companies carried out research, development and innovation in only two technoparks in those years, it is now a country with 115 R&D human resources. While we were a country where more than 13 thousand enterprises produced added value with R&D and innovation in its technopark, where only 414 patent applications were made annually in those years, we are now a country with more than 11 thousand patent applications per year, and while we were exporting only 240 million dollars of defense industry in those years, we are now a country with annual defense industry exports of over 11 billion dollars, among the world's largest defense industry companies, with many institutions, institutions and companies, not only meeting their own needs, but also those of their friends. We have become a country that can respond to the needs of its allies and brothers, and can develop and produce systems that change the paradigms of warfare from the achievements it has made in the defense industry in the world. This force will hopefully be the force that will carry the Turkish nation to its goals, the Red Apple, and the century of Türkiye in today's stormy chapter. "We have also strengthened our ties with our diaspora, that is, our brothers and sisters all over the world," he said.
'TOGETHER WE WILL CARRY Türkiye TO A MUCH BRIGHTER FUTURE'
Stating that they have achieved great success so far, Kacır said, "The Turkey Century is starting now. Hopefully, together, we will carry the Turkish nation to much further goals than today. We will extend the range of our missiles and increase their speed. Hopefully, we will put our mark on the sky with our Red Apple, our Kaan. In cyber security, cyber systems, quantum technologies, electronic warfare systems, with much more advanced technologies, systems, products than today, with your efforts, "We will develop it with your efforts. We will make it possible for Türkiye to develop its own opportunities and capabilities in artificial intelligence and to implement local and national free projects. Hopefully, with all this, we will carry Türkiye to a brighter future together, with your sweat and wisdom," he said.
