Turkish PM names 'innovative' professor as chief economy adviser

Şebnem TURHAN

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has named Boğaziçi University Professor Emine Nur Günay, who is a renowned innovation and trade specialist, as his chief economy adviser.

Günay, known for her work in innovation-based growth and joint projects with Turkish companies of various sizes, is a member of the teaching roster of Boğaziçi University’s International Trade Department. 

She is also the head of the university’s Center for Innovation and Competition-based Development Studies (CInCoD).

In addition to working with several Turkish companies and banks, she has also conducted a number of academic studies on Turkey’s trade opportunities.

In the economic action plan announced in early November, Prime Minister Davutoğlu had stressed the government’s desire to pursue a “technology and information-based growth model” to achieve its ambitious economic goals.

Günay’s views on the importance of human capital to sustain strong growth also indicate a similarity with Davutoğlu’s previous remarks on the issue, with both citing human capital as key for an innovation-based economy based on research and development.