Arama

The program is designed to “facilitate” the process of allowing leading firms to undertake frontier R&D activities in their laboratories in Turkey. Following activities are covered in the scope of the programme.

• Expand the boundaries of existing scientific understanding;
• Bring new scientific understanding to natural phenomena;
• Conduct research activities that are directed to providing solutions to existing scientific challenges or those that are probabilistic in the future;
• Conduct research that have the potential to influence new, emerging technological trends;
• Perform basic and/or applied research for “proof of concept” activities and/or those that are directed to the establishment of new scientific frameworks.

The frontier technology areas to be supported include the priority areas determined by Turkish Republic BTYPK (Science, Technology and Innovation Policies Board) or by TÜBİTAK. For applications other than priority areas, TÜBİTAK Board of Directors decision is requested. (Code of Practice- Article 8)

Applications can be made on any workday of the year.

The application process for the program can start once a letter of intent is submitted to TEYDEB by the Parent Company. (Code of Practice - Article 10)

The application process to the program starts with the parent company’s declaration of letter of intent to TEYDEB. The parent company that declares letter of intent to TEYDEB should have the following criteria;

• At least 15 million TL of the R&D expenses in any of the last three (3) years, (Valid for the year 2022. The amount of R&D expenses specified in the condition is increased in January of each year by the average percentage change in the CPI at the end of the previous year.)

If the letter of intent is found appropriate by the Executive Committee the application stage starts. The parent company or organization (resident capital company in Turkey in which the parent company have management rights) can apply to the program.

It is not necessary to be a resident company in Turkey when submitting a letter of intent to TÜBİTAK. Resident or foreign companies can submit a letter of intent if they meet the eligibility criteria defined in Code of Practice. (Code of Practice- Article 3 and 10)

The points that must be covered when preparing a letter of intent can be found in the Guideline for preparing a letter of intent.

For the guidance please send an e-mail to 1515@tubitak.gov.tr. Applicants whose letter of intent has been accepted will be supported by TEYDEB specialists during the preparation of application form.

One (1) printed copies of the application form must be submitted in English and Turkish. If there is contradiction between the application forms, Turkish version is accepted as legitimate. (Code of Practice- Appendix)

The English application form does not need to be approved by a Certified Translator/Interpreter. If there is contradiction between the application forms, the Turkish version is accepted as legitimate. (Code of Practice- Appendix)

Can the Parent Company apply if the application criteria are met using the financial data in the consolidated budget including the budgets of any other group companies? (e.g. subsidiaries)

The Parent Company must make a declaration of intent with its own data. If the letter of intent is accepted, parent company or institution (see Code of Practice-Article 3) can apply to the program.

Grant duration for the R&D Laboratory Program is five (5) years. However, this period can be extended for up to another five (5) years upon the decision of the Executive Committee and the approval of the Presidency. (Code of Practice- Article 4)

The Frontier R&D Laboratories Program is a grant program therefore; supports are not re-payed. (Code of Practice- Article 4)

The maximum grant award available is thirteen million  (13) million Turkish Liras for one calendar year. (Code of Practice- Article 5)

Laboratory expenses are supported as non-refundable (grant). (Code of Practice- Article 4)

The budget for an R&D Laboratory may be composed of the following items:

Personnel costs: It is required that at least 50% of the total number of personnel covered by the grant must be Turkish citizens and at least one third of the total number of personnel must have a Doctor of Philosophy degree.

• 75% of the monthly costs of Turkish National R&D personnel will be covered.
• In the case that a Turkish national staff member working in one of the research areas the grant program covers applies for funding but is situated outside of Turkey, in a university and/or research center, and has qualifications that cannot be found locally, can, with the approval of the Executive Committee, be eligible to receive a funding rate of up to 100%.
• Those personnel who have positions or are staff members in public institutions, state and foundation universities, and/or have positions as project coordinators, researchers or assistant personnel in R&D laboratories, will not be supported. A Project Incentive Bonus (PIB), which the Science Board will determine, will be given to such personnel. The PIB will be accepted as part of the R&D Laboratory budget. However, if said personnel are a part of the R&D Laboratory Project and are partners or managers of a company that is in a Technology Development Zone or take part in the project through the managing company responsible for the relevant region, their costs may be included in the R&D Laboratory budget as a Consultancy Service.
• Monthly costs of the Foreign National R&D Personnel are funded with a funding rate of at least 25% and a maximum of 100%. The funding rate of the cost of each Foreign National R&D Staff is determined by the Executive Committee depending on the quality of the staff. The total cost of Foreign National R&D Personnel cannot exceed 15% of the total budget.

Consultancy and Training Costs: The funding rate for consulting fees and training costs are 75%. The total of any or all domestic and international consultancy and training service fees should not exceed 25% of the total amount allocated under the grant program for the R&D laboratory. Services expenses from abroad should not exceed %15 of the total fees.

General Expenses: General expenses are calculated as 5% of the personnel cost deduced by evaluating the periodic activity report of the R&D Laboratory. Documents for general expenses are not presented to TEYDEB. (Code of Practice- Article 9)

The costs of consultancy and training services received from other group companies under the Parent Company, located in Turkey and/or abroad, is not eligible for funding. (Code of Practice- Article 9)

Partnered applications to the program are possible. For further information, see the Code of Practice of the program. (Code of Practice-Article 10, Article 11)

Is it possible to apply to the program for the purpose of establishing a test laboratory for operational purposes? (e.g. test services)

Setting up a test laboratory for operational purposes is not compatible with the program scope. Within the scope of the program, only such R&D laboratories that are established for conducting basic and applied research, producing new information, designing and preparing new systems using new information obtained as a result of this research and hence obtaining patents, new technologies and new know-how are funded.

If this condition cannot be met in the period covered by the current periodic activity report for more than 4 months, the organization presents its plan to meet the requirement in the next period. The Executive Committee evaluates the plan together with the periodic activity report and decides to continue to fund or to abolish the project. (Code of Practice-Article 9)

PhD students are not qualified within this scope. (Code of Practice-Article 9)

A minimum of 25% and a maximum of 100% of the monthly costs of foreign R&D personnel will be covered. The total of Foreign R&D Personnel costs cannot exceed 15% of the total budget.(Code of Practice-Article 9)

Depending on the assignment of the relevant personnel, the average monthly costs cannot exceed the limits specified in the Code of Practice-Article 9.

General expenses are calculated as 5% of the personnel cost deduced by evaluating the periodic activity report of the R&D Laboratory. (Code of Practice- Article 9)

Organizations can benefit from all kinds of grants, incentives and exceptions provided for the personnel under the relevant laws in accordance with the Code of Practice. However, organizations should deduce any funds, incentives and exceptions they benefit from the personnel costs and declare the remaining amount to TÜBİTAK after the deduction. (Code of Practice-Article 9)