OSTİM Defence and Aerospace Cluster (OSSA), which strengthens its international cooperation networks, received an invitation from NATO. The cluster participated in the NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG) Meeting held at headquarters in Brussels, presenting its activities and the production capacities of its members.
Led by the Ministry of National Defence and the Machinery and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE), which chairs the NIAG Turkey, OSSA, representing Turkey together with major Turkish industrial firms, was the first cluster to be invited to the Advisory Group and make a presentation at NATO worldwide.
"We can take on a pioneering role."
Cluster Coordinator Hilal Ünal, at the NIAG meeting – which is funded by NATO resources, provides consultancy for NATO, conducts preliminary feasibility studies on issues proposed by the main groups, and is open to direct industrial participation – introduced OSSA and its activities, while also explaining the capabilities of member firms. Hilal Ünal also stated that OSSA provides consultancy to companies from NATO member countries that want to collaborate with SMEs based in Turkey.
The OSSA Coordinator informed the representatives of NATO member countries that the cluster, comprised of SMEs producing in the defense and aerospace sectors, could play a leading role in meeting the needs of all member countries by naturally being able to produce flexibly and by producing high-tech products of high quality and at low cost, and that they were open to cooperation.
Dr. Didem Kökden, Group Leader of the Product Development Branch at the R&D and Technology Department of the Machine and Chemical Industry (MKE), also noted that under the NIAG umbrella, Turkish industry is now working more effectively within NATO.
