Technological innovations are important with regard to increasing export performance. However, the results that had been reached in the empirical literature investigating the effects of R&D expenses which is accepted as input of technological innovation on the export performance are not compatible with each other. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the discussion in the literature. Between years 1995–2005, a panel data analysis was used to test the relationship between Turkish manufacturing industries’ exports, and the R&D expenses. It was found that the effect of the R&D expenses on export performance was substantially lagged.