Turks help engineer future for Nokia-Siemens
As the European population ages, a shortage in qualified personnel is anticipated. Well-trained Turkish specialists have already found a place in European high tech companies.
The world’s largest cell phone company Nokia-Siemens Networks, based in Finland, has a number of Turkish specialists on staff. Expert in “Antenna and Electromagnetic Fields,” engineer Murat Ermutlu opened a new chapter in his life in Finland in 2004. Nokia Networks engineer Zekeriya Uykan began his journey by winning a scholarship from the Finnish Education Ministry, later transferring to Nokia Research Center and becoming a member of the Nokia-Siemens team. After working in several departments in the company, Uykan began conducting research at Nokia-Siemens Network in April.
A technology giant born in the town of Nokia
The establishment of Nokia Siemens Network dates back to the 1860s. The first foundations of Nokia were laid with a forestry industry founded in southwest Finland. Finnish Rubber Works LTD and Finnish Cable Works followed Nokia, which took its name from the town in which it was born. In mid-1960s, these three companies merged under Nokia Corporation. Thus, the first journey of Nokia began. In late 1980s, a part of Ericsson’s data systems and the Dutch cable company NKF joined Nokia. In the 1990s, the company concentrated on telecommunication by separating information technology from basic industrial activities. Today, Nokia Siemens Network serves 150 countries with 600 firms and about 60,000 personnel. Among the telephone giants in the world, Nokia ranks second in wireless networks and operator services and third in wire line networks.
Researches on New Generation Technology
A graduate of Istanbul Technical University Electronics and Communication Dept., Uykan completed his masters in Control and Computer Engineering. By wining a five-month scholarship from the Center for International Mobility sponsored by the Finnish Education Ministry, Uykan went to Finland for doctoral studies. After completion of his PhD at Helsinki Technical University, Uykan began his professional life as Research Engineer at Nokia Research Center in 2000. In April of 2007, he was transferred to the Nokia Siemens Network team currently doing research on a project to design new algorithms enabling the best use of radio sources to improve performance and capacity of next generation WiMAX base stations. Uykan said that a total of 15 Turkish engineers are working in Nokia Siemens Networks.
Ermutlu specialized in antenna and electromagnetic fields. Like Uykan, Ermutlu headed to Finland for his doctoral studies. Now he is doing research on antenna configuration in next generation technologies in base stations and preparing reports on designs and measures. In the reports he prepares, Ermutlu underlines advantages and disadvantages of new generation technologies. Elsewhere, Uykan draws attention to Turkey’s young population as he predicts there will be a shortage of qualified personnel in Europe due to the aging population. Turkey could take advantage of this situation, asserts Uykan, stressing the importance of raising Turkish youth to compensate for a lack of qualified specialists.
Finnish work more systematic than Turks
Living in Finland is a great privilege, Uykan said, adding that the cold Nordic climate has an affect on people. He believes Finnish work more systematically than Turks. “Finns are calm. They express feelings prudently and only if necessary. We Turks are affectionate; we show our reactions immediately,” he said.