The 1515 Program applies an integrated perspective that extends beyond a consideration of the initial, establishment phase of the R&D laboratory. We realize that R&D laboratories flourish with long-term commitments. For this reason, the support of the 1515 Program extends to the phase of sustaining the activities of R&D laboratories in the long-run.
The 1515 Program offers an entirely grant-based financial model to cover up to 75% (for personnel expenditures, in some cases up to 100%) of the operating expenses of the R&D laboratory in Turkey with up to 10 million TRY for each calendar year for a duration of at most 10 years.
The coverage of the grant support consists of the following items:
- Personnel Costs
- Consultancy and Education Fees
- General Operating Costs
For eligibility to have personnel costs covered in the total grant amount, at least 50% of the personnel must hold Turkish citizenship and at least 1/3 should have a doctoral degree.
The presence of the R&D laboratory in Turkey will further open the possibility of benefiting from any one of TUBITAK’s other grant-based mechanisms, which are over 50 support mechanisms in total. These mechanisms, including call-based programs in areas of priority, are open for the application of all research entities in Turkey.
In addition to the grant that is provided for the budget under the relevant R&D support programs, the R&D laboratory will quality to receive a “Project Incentive Premium” for each R&D project.
In order to benefit from the 1515 Program, all that your company needs to submit to TUBITAK is a “Letter of Intent”. Provided that the letter of intent is approved, the Aplication Form should be presented. These documents should describe the qualities of the proposed R&D laboratory in being provided with grant based support for undertaking frontier R&D activities in Turkey.
The program is designed to “facilitate” the process of allowing leading firms to undertake frontier R&D activities in their laboratories in Turkey. The basic expectations after a positive evaluation is that the R&D laboratory puts into place a research plan to realize the following:
- 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.
Support period for R&D Laboratory is five (5) years. However, this period can be extended for a maximum of five (5) years upon the decision of the Executive Committee and the approval of the Presidency.
Laboratories supported under the program are supported as grant (refunds) within the support period.
The support amount in a calendar year cannot exceed Thirteen million (13) million TL.
Supported Expense Items
The R&D Laboratory budget, on the condition that it is accepted by TÜBİTAK, consists of the following items:
- Personnel expenses
- Consultancy and education expenses
- General expenses
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.
1515 – Frontier R&D Laboratories Support Programme is a program that is open to continuous application. Applications can be made on any workdays of the year.
- Evaluation of the Letter of Intent (Executive Committee)
The letter of intent is evaluated by the Executive Committee within the framework of the following criteria;
a. Suitability of the candidate applicant with the application conditions stated in Article 10 of the Code of Practice,
b. Eligibility of the activities and objectives presented in declaration of intent to the program, c. Expected impact of activities and targets.
- Preliminary evaluation of the Application Form (Executive Committee)
If the letter of intent is admitted, the Application Form forwarded by the applicant to TÜBİTAK is evaluated by the Executive Committee. In the preliminary evaluation, a revision can be requested from the applicant by the Executive Committee to complete the content for evaluation on the application form.
As a result of the preliminary evaluation, expert committee consisting of national/international experts is appointed for the applications found suitable for the expert evaluation.
- Panel Evaluation (Expert Committee)
The expert committee prepares the Panel Report by making a panel evaluation at TÜBİTAK and this report is forwarded to the Executive Committee. During the panel evaluation, the applicant is invited to the panel to make a presentation about the application.
- Evaluation of the Application (Executive Committee)
The Executive Board evaluates the Panel Report and submits the applications accepted eligible to the TÜBİTAK Presidency for approval.
- Beginning of the Granting Phase
The granting phase begins with the approval of the TÜBİTAK Presidency.
For more detailed information and questions not covered in this section, you can review the Code of Practice of the Programme. It is assumed that the applicants have read and understood the Code of Practice. The responsibility belongs to the applicant.
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)
TÜBİTAK TEYDEB Frontier Technology Areas Support Group
e-mail: 1515@tubitak.gov.tr
Doç. Dr. Peren KARAGİN
Phone: (+90) 312 298 95 15
e-mail: peren.karagin@tubitak.gov.tr
Hacı Samet KÜÇÜK
Phone: (+90) 312 298 13 79
e-mail: hacisamet.kucuk@tubitak.gov.tr