Tax incentives applied to technology development zones: The case of Türkiye and selected EU countries

Today, technology is one of the main determinants of economic growth and competitiveness. In this context, the R&D indicators of countries and the contribution of technology development zones to the economy constitute an important subject of evaluation. This study analyzes the R&D indicators and incentives offered to Technology Development Zones in Türkiye and five selected EU countries between 2012 and 2022. The tax incentives provided to technopolises and R&D investments and expenditures of developed countries such as Sweden, Denmark and Germany and developing countries such as Greece, Romania and Türkiye are compared. As a result, it is aimed to reveal the contribution of technopolises to the Turkish economy and to develop strategies to increase the existing contributions. As a result of the comparison made within this framework, it is determined that there are direct and indirect positive effects between R&D and national economies. The study develops recommendations for improving the tax policies applied to technopolises in Türkiye. In addition, recommendations are put forward to increase the value given to R&D activities in Türkiye and to improve its position in the global market.