Alkım : Vestel is Performing R&D in Many Areas-1

We talked with the İhsaner Alkım, CTO of Vestel about R&D activities of Vestel.

İhsaner Alkım graduated from İstanbul Technical University (Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering) in 1977. After serving in various positions in the electronics and communications sectors, he joined Vestel in 1988 and since then has been undertaking duties in matters related to R&D save for a four-year period in 1998-2002. Mr Alkım rejoined Vestel in the latter year and is a member of the Executive Committee responsible for electronics R&D.

turk-internet.com : Could you talk about yourself and your role in Vestel?

İhsaner Alkım : I am coordinating R&D activities of VESTEL group of companies,as CTO.

turk-internet.com : What R&D activities are you doing as Vestel, today? Could you give us some detail?

İhsaner Alkım : Vestel is performing R&D activities in many areas from consumer electronics to unmanned aerial vehicles. Our R&D activities can be categorized into two main categories; developing products by using current technologies and developing technologies according to the requirements of electronics market.

For instance, Pixellence concept which had been developed to improve image quality in TVs was the focus of all visitors in various fairs including IFA and CeBIT. In this area, we are in strong competition with the leader companies in the consumer electronics market. We are forming joint operations firms in the Europe and World to enable our Pixellence platform in their own hardware platforms. We are also working on a TV software stack combining our digital broadcasting software and TV software experience in a single software module.

Besides all of these, we are also conducting R&D works on home multimedia and general networking systems. Today, the fact that people can do more in their homes lead to the development of architectures that can connect homes to the outside world.

We are also doing a lot of work in this area and aiming to convert these studies into products like IP TVs. As the single laptop manufacturer of Europe, we are developing elegant and unique designs. Moreover, we have begun developing the main part of the flat panel TVs which is the LCD panel and driver circuitry with our own added value in our manufacturing facilities in Manisa. Vestel is also continuing its R&D works both on durable energy cells and umanned air vehicle areas by developing its fully native technologies and products. Modernization requirements of Turkish Armed Forces are being fulfilled by Turkish engineers who are focused on innovative product development.

Above all, it would not be true to perceive the works of Vestel only limited to product development. Vestel is planning to build its own technology infrastructure by filing patents for all of the its IPs. In this way, Vestel will continue its existence in the market by having a strong library of IPs like its competitors in the world.

turk-internet.com : Somehow, we have got used to the idea that R&D can not be performed in Turkey. What’s the power behind the fact that Vestel accomplishes the R&D.

İhsaner Alkım : I can say that working towards realistic but challenging targets and believing in success. It requires a lot of experience and a powerful financial infrastructure to come to this stage. R&D gives its fruits in long-term and financial turnbacks in the mid-term generally may not be so powerful.

Vestel started its R&D adventure as a TV importer and now it is a company that creates its own technology. Regarding the advanced R&D activities, we are making a lot of investments in İzmir, Ankara and Istanbul. Making research and development requires believing the people that Turkey raised. We both show our determination in R&D and create more added value by iniating projects which join the business world with universities. These approaches increase the interest of talented and proficient engineers in Vestel and in this way, we strengthen our R&D teams.

Tubitak, Kosgeb and European Union support projects are very useful in supporting R&D activities. For instance, Tubitak had incrased the amount of financial support from 300 to 500 million YTL, last year. Turkey pays a certain amount of entrance fee to the framework program of project groups in Europe as R&D support every year. The entrance fee for AB 6.th framework program has been increased from 250 to 800 thousand Euro this year. Therefore, more R&D companies, universities and research centers should apply in order to take more financial support for R&D. As Vestel, we should plan to take more from EU 7th framework program budget which is above 52 million Euros. As a conclusion, our companies have to give more strength to R&D activities in the context of conformity to EU and for the future of our country.

for the Following part, click : Alkım : Daha Çok Kurum ARGE Yardımına Başvurmalı-1

for Turkish translation of this part, click the link : Alkım : Daha Çok Kurum ARGE Yardımına Başvurmalı-1