Turkey's Biomedical Device Sector
Turkey's biomedical device sector has been growing rapidly in recent years. Government-backed R&D programs, university-industry collaborations, and a young engineering workforce have accelerated domestic medical device production.
TÜBİTAK's support programs (1812, 1501, 1505) in particular have been instrumental in encouraging domestic technology development in the biomedical field.
Why Domestic Biomedical Device Production Matters
Economic Independence
Turkey's medical device imports represent a significant trade deficit item. Domestic production:
- Reduces foreign currency dependence
- Creates employment in high-value engineering roles
- Contributes to economic growth through value-added manufacturing
Health Security
- Supply chain independence — product accessibility during crises
- Ability to develop solutions tailored to local clinical needs
- Fast technical support and maintenance capabilities
R&D and Innovation
- An ecosystem spanning from university labs to commercialization
- Hands-on industry experience for young engineers
- Patents and intellectual property remaining within the country
Biomedical R&D Centers in Turkey
University-Based R&D
Universities like Hacettepe, METU, Bilkent, Boğaziçi and İTÜ have strong research infrastructure in biomedical engineering. STARGE draws on Hacettepe University's biomedical engineering expertise.
TÜBİTAK-Funded Projects
The TÜBİTAK 1812 program supports innovative technology projects by young entrepreneurs. STARGE's BioVector project is funded under this program.
STARGE: Ankara-Based Biomedical R&D Laboratory
STARGE is an Ankara-based R&D company. Our team working in biomedical devices, AI and embedded systems develops:
- BioVector: A 4-channel EMG, EEG, ECG and EOG biosignal monitoring device
- Nefes: AI-powered smoking cessation assistant
- Dancer: Dance event discovery and ticketing platform
For detailed information about our EMG device, read our article on What Is a Local EMG Device?.
Visit our Projects page to learn about all our work.