---

In today s rapidly changing business world, Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) look for local partner firms in different countries to make R&D collaborations. In this book, important factors affecting R&D collaborations were found as production, innovation & R&D capabilities and then absorptive capacity of the Turkish automotive companies. The main R&D policy of the MNE (criteria for possible R&D collaboration, openness to R&D collaboration and strategic goals) was found as an important factor affecting MNE s R&D location decisions. Another factor, competition between other R&D departments in different countries, and other R&D department s competency were found as moderate level of importance. R&D Managers of Fiat, Ford and Hyundai found the Turkish government s R&D incentives very attractive, and found that Turkey s infrastructure, socio-economic conditions and cheap but skilled labor force were appropriate for undertaking R&D collaborations. Social factors (mutual trust, level of commitment and cultural conflicts) were found to be an important influence in MNE s R&D location decisions.

---

Dr. Asl Tuncay €elikel studied management in undergraduate; business administration in MBA and Ph.D. studies at I k University, concentrating on innovation management. She worked as a researcher at WZB (Social Science Research Center of Berlin) in 2006-2007 with DAAD scholarship. She is working as a lecturer at I k University.

---