Türkiye's gross domestic expenditure on research and development (R&D) increased by 328.6 billion Turkish liras year-on-year to reach 980.4 billion liras in 2025, while the share of R&D spending in the country's gross domestic product (GDP) rose to 1.55 per cent, according to the 2025 Research and Development Activities Survey released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat).

The survey showed that Türkiye's GDP totalled 63.24 trillion liras in 2025, with R&D expenditure accounting for 1.55 per cent of national output, compared with 1.46 per cent in 2024, reflecting the country's continued increase in investment in innovation, technology and scientific research.

Businesses remain the driving force behind R&D investment

The business enterprise sector accounted for 65 per cent of total R&D expenditure, maintaining its position as the country's largest investor in research and development. Higher education institutions represented 30.3 per cent, while the government and non-profit organisations accounted for the remaining 4.7 per cent.

Personnel costs constituted the largest expenditure item, making up 58.8 per cent of total R&D spending.

Businesses also led the financing of R&D activities, providing 52.5 per cent of total funding. The government contributed 31.1 per cent, higher education institutions 14.1 per cent, and foreign sources 2.3 per cent, while other domestic sources accounted for approximately 0.01 per cent.

R&D workforce approaches 318,000

A total of 317,982 full-time equivalent personnel were employed in R&D activities during 2025.

Of the total workforce, 67.9 per cent worked in the business sector, 29 per cent in higher education institutions and 3 per cent in government and non-profit organisations.

The number of female R&D personnel reached 108,453, representing 34.1 per cent of the total. Women accounted for 48.1 per cent of R&D personnel in higher education, 32.2 per cent in the government and non-profit sector, and 28.2 per cent in business enterprises.

Nearly one-third of researchers hold doctoral degrees

In terms of educational attainment, 40.6 per cent of R&D personnel held bachelor's degrees, 31 per cent possessed doctoral or equivalent qualifications, and 19.4 per cent had master's degrees. Graduates of vocational colleges represented 4.9 per cent, while those with a high school education or below accounted for 4.1 per cent.

Based on full-time equivalent employment, bachelor's degree holders represented 49.6 per cent of the workforce, followed by master's degree holders at 18.5 per cent and doctoral graduates at 21.4 per cent.

Istanbul and Ankara lead regional R&D activity

Regionally, Istanbul accounted for the largest share of Türkiye's R&D expenditure with 31.8 per cent, followed by Ankara with 30 per cent. The TR42 region, comprising Kocaeli, Sakarya, Düzce, Bolu and Yalova, ranked third with a 9.5 per cent share.

Istanbul also led in R&D employment with 32.2 per cent of total personnel, followed by Ankara with 19.8 per cent, while the TR42 region accounted for 8.4 per cent.

High-technology industries continue to dominate manufacturing R&D

Business enterprises spent 637.3 billion liras on R&D activities in 2025, with 54.9 per cent of this expenditure carried out in dedicated R&D centres. Of the spending undertaken in these centres, 89.5 per cent came from enterprises employing 250 or more workers.

Within the manufacturing industry, high-technology enterprises accounted for 47.7 per cent of total R&D expenditure. Medium-high technology industries represented 40.7 per cent, while medium-low and low-technology industries accounted for 7.2 per cent and 4.4 per cent, respectively.

The largest number of researchers in manufacturing was employed in medium-high technology industries, with 32,399 researchers, while 23,298 researchers worked in high-technology industries. On a full-time equivalent basis, medium-high technology industries also ranked first with 29,697 researchers.

Indirect R&D incentives continue to expand

The share of indirect R&D incentives in total business R&D expenditure increased significantly over the past decade, rising from 14.8 per cent in 2015 to 26.5 per cent in 2025.

Over the same period, business R&D expenditure climbed sharply from 11.2 billion liras to 637.3 billion liras, highlighting the growing role of private-sector investment in strengthening Türkiye's research, innovation and technological development capacity.(ILKHA)