About
Mehmet Harmancı was born in 1950 in Konya. His father, Ahmet Harmancı, was one of the first graduates of Ankara Mülkiye Mektebi (Faculty of Political Sciences). He worked at the General Directorate of Revenues in the Ministry of Finance. He served as a member of the Finance Inspection Board and taught at the Finance Vocational High School. Mehmet Harmancı's sister, Hatice Cullingford Harmancı, pursued her doctorate in the United States after attending Middle East Technical University. She formerly worked at NASA, as a nuclear reactor engineer for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and Department of Energy. She holds numerous patents. Mehmet Harmancı is married and a father of three children.
Educational Background
Mehmet Harmancı completed his primary, middle, and high school education in public schools in Ankara. He was an average student. He registered for the psychology department at Middle East Technical University. When the internationally renowned sociologist Mübeccel Kıray joined ODTÜ, he switched to the sociology department. Indeed, Mübeccel Kıray's influence saved him from laziness and made him a diligent student. In 1973, he graduated from the sociology department. Despite receiving a scholarship from the Ministry of Education (MEB) and an invitation from his sister who worked at NASA, he did not go to the United States for a postgraduate program. Instead, he aimed to become an expert in the "Social Planning Department" within the State Planning Organization (DPT).
Early Stages of Career
He won the "economics assistant expert" exam opened by GİMA, achieving first place. While in this position, he also prepared GIMA's "five-year development plan." Through these exams, he transitioned from sociology to the field of economics.
He resigned from GİMA to work as a project coordinator, alongside German technicians, in the establishment of Yongapan - the integrated forest products company in Kastamonu. He had to abruptly leave this job and return to Ankara due to his brother falling ill.
He stayed with his sister, who worked at NASA in the United States, for a while. Upon his return, in 1978, he started working as a contracted specialist in the newly established "Project Research and Development" department at DESİYAB (State Industry and Labor Investment Bank).
Extensive Career in Research and Development
He remained in the same R&D department at this institution for 30 years and participated in industrial development projects conducted all across Turkey.
He worked together with Ministry of Industry experts in some projects and conducted joint feasibility studies with TUBITAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey). He served as an accounting member in TKB (Development Bank of Turkey) subsidiaries. He was particularly assigned tasks in the Eastern Anatolia region. During the examination stage of investment project requests, he sometimes visited villages if necessary. He compiled reports by meeting with officials from governorates, public institutions, industrial facilities, and chambers of commerce and industry starting from the governorship level in every region.
He prepared "Project Evaluation Reports" specifically for industrial projects of investors applying for financing at the Development Bank of Türkiye. Additionally, he conducted around 100 feasibility studies, sectoral research, and regional research for industrial investment projects throughout Turkey. These works were printed in book form, with approximately 300 copies produced at the institution's printing press, and sent to the libraries of universities and public institutions all over Turkey for the benefit of investors and researchers.
In Ankara, he voluntarily worked for the democracy to grow in Turkey. He advocated that democracy in Turkey should transform from a divisive "slogan politics" to a competition of "producing better solution projects for public service." To follow current developments in the world, for 30 years, he would buy and meticulously read "The Economist" magazine every week. From this news, He would summarize the important topics related to "beneficial innovations" and “modern reforms” for Turkey, preparing a file called "Contemporary Proposals." Regardless of which government was in power in Ankara, he would bring these reports to every head of government to present voluntary advice. He advocated for the establishment of a "Research-Project Department" in every political party.
While working at the Development Bank of Turkey, he prepared the "Industrial-Investment Cooperation Among Turkish Republics" project at the EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) and got it approved by the bank. He proposed and prepared projects such as; “the establishment of the Crimean Turkish Bank”, “water transfer from Anamur to Cyprus”, “the Hakkari yarn factory”, “the establishment of "Development Chambers" in Turkey”, “the establishment of the first Techno Parks in Turkey”, “the multiplier effect of R&D in defence industry science and technology on the country's economy”, and "science and technology consultancy services to companies financed by TKB”.
After the financial crisis, in 1989, as part of the reform of the Turkish banking system, the IMF delegation, which determined the fate of DESİYAB and Turizm Bankası, he represented DESİYAB as an expert in the meeting. Following these negotiations, it was decided to merge Turizm Bankası into DESIYAB and restructure it as the Turkey Development Bank (TKB).
He retired in 2006 due to health issues. Now, he is only focused on developing projects for YGA's concept of "double-winged civilization". Among these projects is a project to create the world's first English-Turkish science and technology encyclopedia to be presented in virtual reality (VR). He also translates the history of science and technology.
Within this scope, he is developing internet files for the selected projects to establish science-experiment parks suitable for people of all ages throughout Turkey. Similarly, he is creating an archive of the most suitable and beneficial projects to be proposed at symposiums that will guide young entrepreneurs in Turkey.