A new approach to the concept of Anatolian Industrial and Technological Corridor in southern Turkey using social innovation instruments

In order to increase the national income, to reverse the domestic migration, to decrease the inequality between regions and, to provide a planned development, there is a need to establish a second corridor as Anatolian Industrial and Technological Corridor (AITC), extending across 10 cities from Konya to Diyarbakir beside Marmara corridor. This concept will form a basis to improve the competitive power by innovation in present traditional technologies and also will cause the development of high technology areas resulting sustainable regional development. AITC found in a rapid developing stage in economic, social and cultural aspects is expected to be second biggest industrial region and an important part of national innovation policy and system within 20 years. Technology diffusing through whole society is often dependent upon social innovations therefore technical innovations should be supported by social innovation components and related actions; strengthening societal confidence and trust, promoting intellectual capacities, creating new innovative enterprises and a learning community as well as social entrepreneurs, building a sustainable infrastructure for greater social inclusion, mobilization of community, forming centers for social innovation as a forum and collaborative networks. For this purpose, some social scientific instruments in the frame of defined needs of AITC can be used like Experimental Social Innovation and Dissemination (ESID) model. (c) 2006 PICMET.