For the first 3 chapters of this interview pls click
- Alkım : Vestel is Performing R&D in Many Areas-1
- Alkım : Vestel Will Carry Leadership for the Digital Broadcasting of Turkey – 2
- Alkım : Vestel has the 60% of Digital Broadcasting Market in UK – 3
There is a convergence between TV and IP. There are some statistics which state that the usage of TV is decreasing and people have a tendency to watch TVs on their PCs. What do you think about this issue? Will you have investments in this area?
İhsaner Alkım : There are some major differences between a TV user and a PC user. First of all, PC is a much more complex device from a perspective of usage. I do not think that PC will replace TV but I think that TVs can take some of the capabilities of PCs with the advancement of features of TV processors. As I have stated before, internet will be inevitably go inside TVs. Vestel Wireless TV is a good example to this situation. With the usage of this TV, you can transfer the content in your PC to your TV without any physical connection. A further version will be the IP and Interactive TVs which constitute the next generation product groups of Vestel.
In which place is Vestel in World Ranking?
İhsaner Alkım : Vestel is in the first ranking in CRT Television production in Europe. And in Flat Panel TV, it is in the third place. Currently, Europe’s leader TV and Chip producers want to use the IP’s we develop. From this point of view, we can say that we are in an important position in the world market. Companies like LG and Samsung grew up reapidly and became big brands with considerable govermental support. Vestel is a candidate to be one of the leading companies in the world consumer electronics market.
Focusing on the year 2007, which countries is Vestel exporting its products?
İhsaner Alkım : The products developed in Vestel are sold more than 100 countries around Europe, Asia and Africa either with its own brand or as n ODM.
What do you think about the strategy of our country on R&D and the approach to the new technoparks?
İhsaner Alkım : I find the approach of our country to R&D as positive but it should be taken much further. The supports and assistances for the development of R&D activities had been increased increased in large amounts when compared to the recent years. We shoud also increase creativity and entrepreneurship activities.
Technoparks serve great importance in the development of R&Ds. Our R&D centers in İstanbul, İzmir Urla and Ankara are located in technoparks. In this way, industry and universities come close and common work areas are increased.
Let me ask the question which was previously asked at Talk Show Beyaz. Why is creativity poor in our country or is it poor? Is it difficult to get patents? How can we overcome this?
İhsaner Alkım : In contrast, I think it is rather advanced creativity and entrepreneurship. But, creativity is considered in low level issues rather than issues which are going to improve our country’s competition in global market. Besides people have the lack of guidance, information and practice environment.
I think if the number of companies which attach importance to R&D like Vestel increases, Turkey’s creative power will result oriented issues and international successes. I think it will be easy to get patents which have financial and functional difficulties as long as increasing demands to it. If it was easy from financial aspects, patent application is a hard work, it is difficult without the help of lawyers, otherwise it is possible to get new patents or produce new products just by passing around of best patents without violating them. Considering this issue, increasing patent applications of us and other institutions creates a new generation.
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