Pharmaceutical Startups in Türkiye and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC): A SWOT Analysis Inspired by the WEF Future of Jobs Report 2025

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 76 - 93, 31.10.2025

Solmaz Hazratgholizad , Peyman Keyhanvar Soodabeh Davaran

https://doi.org/10.54994/emujpharmsci.1750810

Abstract

This study conducts a SWOT analysis of pharmaceutical startups in Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), informed by the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025. Employing a qualitative, expert-driven approach with secondary data from peer-reviewed articles, industry reports, and innovation indices (2018–2025), the research utilizes a 30-point SWOT matrix to evaluate internal strengths (e.g., Türkiye’s industrial base, TRNC’s EU-funded initiatives), weaknesses (e.g., regulatory hurdles, limited AI talent), external opportunities (e.g., AI-driven R&D, green manufacturing), and threats (e.g., geopolitical instability, trade barriers). Türkiye’s robust ecosystem supports an offensive strategy, leveraging generic drug production, precision medicine, and digital health to compete in MENA and EU markets. Conversely, TRNC’s smaller, geopolitically constrained ecosystem favors a conservative approach, focusing on niche markets like orphan drugs and clinical trial hosting through alignment with Türkiye. Strategic frameworks propose short-, medium-, and long-term priorities, including regulatory acceleration and AI talent development, to enhance competitiveness. Despite relying on secondary data and excluding the Republic of Cyprus, this study bridges entrepreneurship and global foresight, offering actionable insights for stakeholders to foster innovation and economic growth. Future research should incorporate primary stakeholder perspectives and broader regional analyses.

Keywords

Pharmaceutics , Startups , Türkiye , Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus , SWOT , WEF , Future of Jobs

Ethical Statement

This study adheres to the principles of academic integrity and ethical research conduct. The research primarily utilized publicly available secondary data from peer-reviewed journals, industry reports, and institutional databases, accessed with appropriate permissions or licenses. Additionally, expert insights were gathered through questionnaires and oral sessions with informed consent from participating experts from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz University, Khazar University, EMU University, and Yeditepe University, ensuring voluntary participation and confidentiality of responses. No experimental procedures or confidential data were involved, and all sources are cited in accordance with APA style to uphold academic standards.

Supporting Institution

This research was supported by the ARTAN1100 Startup Accelerator, which provided critical resources, expertise, and access to regional startup ecosystem networks in Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The accelerator facilitated connections with key stakeholders and offered strategic guidance that enriched the study’s contextual analysis.

Thanks

We express our sincere gratitude to the experts from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz University, Khazar University, EMU University, and Yeditepe University for their invaluable contributions through questionnaires and oral sessions, which provided nuanced insights into the pharmaceutical startup ecosystems in Türkiye and TRNC. Additionally, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the ARTAN Corridor experts for their guidance and support, which significantly enhanced the depth and relevance of this study. Furthermore, considering that parts of the results of this article were presented at the EMU International Pharmaceutical Sciences Congress 2025, held on May 14, 2025, in Famagusta, TRNC, we express our gratitude to Prof. Dr. H. Ozan Gülcan, Congress Chair and Dean of EMU Faculty of Pharmacy, and Assist. Prof. Dr. E. Vildan Burgaz, Organizing Committee Chair of EMU Faculty of Pharmacy, for coordinating this opportunity, as well as to other members of the university team for their support.

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