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1507 SME R&D Start-up Support Program

TÜBİTAK has announced the 2021 First Period 1507 SME R&D Start-up Support Program Call (1507-2021-1). Within the scope of this call, R&D projects that will increase the technological competitiveness of companies will be supported in all sectors and technology fields. These projects focus on the design and development of a new product, the improvement of an existing product, and the development of new techniques and production technologies that improve product quality or reduce costs. Priority will be given to projects in the "Priority Technology Areas" listed in the link provided. Project proposals must include at least one project personnel with a bachelor's degree in a relevant field.

Priority Technology Areas: https://www.tubitak.gov.tr/sites/default/files/21566/tubitak_cp2021.pdf

Technology Readiness Levels: Each priority Technology Area specifies which Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) projects will be supported. For information on Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs): https://tubitak.gov.tr/sites/default/files/21566/teknoloji_hazirlik_seviyeleri_ve_oncelikli_teknoloji_alanlari_ar-ge_ve_yenilik_konulari.pdf

Other considerations: Project proposals will be evaluated based on whether they meet one or more of the objectives listed below.

  • Increasing the company's capacity for developing technological products or processes.

  • Transforming solution proposals that target customer requirements or market gaps into commercial prototypes.

  • Development of products or technologies aimed at export.

  • SMEs operating in the same or different fields can carry out joint project work.

Projects that were successful in the 2020 calls for proposals:

The deadline for pre-registration applications is Friday, February 12, 2021 (at 5:00 PM).

Application deadline: Monday, March 1, 2021 (23:59)

Announcement: https://www.tubitak.gov.tr/tr/duyuru/teydeb-1501-1507-ve-ardeb-1001-programlarinin-2021-yili-cagrilari-aciliyor

The relevant page on TÜBİTAK's website: https://www.tubitak.gov.tr/tr/destekler/sanayi/ulusal-destek-programlari/1507/icerik-basvuru-formlari

Call for Proposals (Information Note): https://www.tubitak.gov.tr/sites/default/files/21566/1507-cagri_duyurusu_2021-1.pdf

Online application form:

Documents

Definitions

Definition

Explanation

Organization/Company

SMEs are defined as capital companies established in Türkiye that create added value at the firm level, regardless of their sector.

Organization Official

The person(s) authorized to represent and bind the organization in the broadest sense, or their representative(s) duly authorized by that person(s) to hold the organization accountable to TÜBİTAK for all procedures, including the signing of the project contract.

Project Coordinator

The organization staff member responsible for the scientific and technical execution of the project for which support is applied, the preparation of relevant reports, and ensuring that expenditures and expenses comply with the requirements of the supported project, and who handles correspondence on behalf of the organization's official.

Project Financial Officer

The person employed by the organization (unless a separate person is designated, this task is undertaken by the project manager) is responsible, together with the organization's official and other relevant parties, for preparing the financial reports related to the project in accordance with the scope of support, ensuring the accuracy and compliance of expenditures, expense documents, and cost calculations with legislation.

Group Executive Board (GYK)

Group executive boards established for each technology group operating under the TÜBİTAK Technology and Innovation Support Programs Directorate.

Who can apply?

SMEs are defined as capital companies established in Türkiye that create added value at the firm level, regardless of their sector:

  • For the SME Declaration and SME Declaration Information Note: https://www.tubitak.gov.tr/tr/destekler/sanayi/ulusal-destek-programlari/1507/icerik-basvuru-formlari

  • Projects of organizations that met the SME definition at the time of project application but lost this status during the support process will continue to be supported within the framework of these application principles.

  • Within the scope of the program, the first 5 projects of SMEs will be supported, provided that at least 2 of them are joint applications. Organizations whose total number of projects under evaluation and projects approved under the TÜBİTAK-TEYDEB support programs is five cannot submit a new application. However, if at least one of the project proposals under evaluation is deemed unsuitable for support, a new project application can be submitted, provided that at least 2 of the projects are joint applications.

  • Businesses whose legal and business headquarters are located abroad, their representative offices and branches located in Türkiye with limited tax liability status, as well as foundations, associations and their economic enterprises, cooperatives, unions, sole proprietorships and general partnerships cannot apply for projects under this program.

  • Third-stage project applications from companies supported under the 1512 Technopreneurship Capital Support Program can be submitted continuously outside of this call. However, when submitted to the 1507 TÜBİTAK SME R&D Start-up Support Program Call, even if it is a continuation of the supported project, it will not be considered a third-stage application but will be evaluated within the scope of this call.

  • Joint Applications:

    • Organizations can apply for a joint project proposal. The joint project application is submitted as a single project application. The activities and budgets of each organization within the project must be prepared separately. In joint projects deemed eligible for support, after the periodic expenses are covered, each participant receives separate support for their project expenses.

    • Each organization involved in projects submitted as partners to this program must meet all of the above conditions.

    • If an organization applying for a project purchases R&D services from another organization, and these services constitute a significant part of the project, the organizations may be required to submit a joint project application or separate applications simultaneously to allow for the evaluation and monitoring of all R&D activities within the project. If the activities supported in one project are part of a service procurement for another organization's project, no support will be requested for the service procurement; only the activities of the organization performing the R&D will be supported.

    • Organizations applying for a joint project are not required to have a commercial partnership among themselves.

    • In joint projects, one of the participating organizations is designated as the counterparty in the project contract to be signed after the funding decision, and all correspondence, except for payment notifications and funding decision letters, is conducted with this organization.

    • In the support process for joint projects, situations such as partner organizations withdrawing from the project, changes in partners, or changes in the work plan between partners are submitted to TÜBİTAK. Based on this evaluation, TÜBİTAK decides whether the jointly submitted project will continue to receive support, and if so, under what scope.

Supported R&D Activities

Projects to be supported are expected to include all or some of the stages listed below.

  • Concept development

  • Technological/technical and economic feasibility study

  • Laboratory and similar studies involved in the process of transitioning from developed concept to design.

  • Design, design implementation, and design verification processes.

  • Prototype production

  • Establishment of a pilot plant

  • Trial production and type testing will be carried out.

  • Activities to resolve design-related problems encountered during field tests.

Project Implementation Period

  • Maximum 18 months

  • Proje sözleşmesinde belirtilen proje destek süresi uzatılması kuruluş tarafından gerekçesi belirtilerek talep edilebilir. Bu talepler proje izleyicisinin de görüşü alınarak TÜBİTAK tarafından değerlendirilir. Değerlendirme sonucunda proje destek süresi 18 ayı geçmemek üzere ve proje destek süresinin en fazla %25’i oranında bir defaya mahsus olmak üzere artırılır. Hesaplanan süre uzatımı tam ay değilse, %25 artış oran kısıtı dikkate alınmaksızın, süre uzatımı bir üst aya tamamlanır.

Supporting

The maximum support amount per project is 600,000 TL (For information on the maximum support amount: https://www.tubitak.gov.tr/tr/destekler/sanayi/ulusal-destek-programlari/1507/icerik-destek-kapsami).

Expense Item

Detail

Support Rate

Employee

  • The expenses of personnel involved in the activities of projects supported under this program are declared by the beneficiary organization using an average monthly cost. The Average Monthly Cost of Project Personnel takes into account gross wages, employer contributions to social security, employer contributions to unemployment insurance, and bonuses, if any, for the relevant period.

    • The support, incentives, and exemptions provided to R&D and support personnel working on R&D projects of organizations within the framework of the "Income Tax Withholding Incentive" and "Social Security Premium Support" included in Law No. 5746 on the Support of Research and Development Activities, and the "Income Tax Exemption" related to wages earned in the Technology Development Zones Law No. 4691 and the "Income Tax Exemption" related to wages earned in the Free Zones Law No. 3218 are not included in the project personnel cost, are not declared to TÜBİTAK, and are not supported.

    • If, within the scope of the project, the project does not benefit from the support, incentives, and exemptions specified in Law No. 5746 until the date the support decision letter is issued or the date the project contract enters into force, a declaration is made to TÜBİTAK without deducting these supports, incentives, and exemptions from the project personnel costs. If, after the date the support decision letter is issued or the date the project contract enters into force, the project does not benefit from the support, incentives, and exemptions specified in Law No. 5746, a declaration is made to TÜBİTAK after deducting the amount calculated as if these supports, incentives, and exemptions had been utilized from the project personnel costs.

  • Support amount upper limit: If the Average Monthly Cost of the project personnel declared for the relevant period is below the limits specified below, the Average Monthly Cost of the declared personnel will be taken into account in determining the scope of expenditure eligible for support. If the educational status of the project personnel changes during the project period, the limit applied to the "Average Monthly Cost" will be adjusted according to the changed educational status.

    • For project staff holding a doctoral degree, 12 times the gross minimum wage applicable during the relevant period.

    • For project staff with at least a bachelor's degree:

      • If the period between the undergraduate graduation date and the project application date is more than 48 months, the amount to be paid may be a maximum of 10 times the gross minimum wage valid during that period.

      • If the period between the undergraduate graduation date and the project application date is less than 48 months, the maximum amount is 6 times the gross minimum wage valid during that period.

    • For project personnel with associate degrees, the maximum amount is four times the gross minimum wage applicable during the relevant period.

    • For project personnel with a high school education or lower, the maximum salary will be three times the gross minimum wage applicable during the period.

%75

Purchase of Tools, Equipment, Software and Publications

  • Purchases that primarily form part of the company's R&D infrastructure, such as testing, analysis, and measurement equipment, are supported at a periodic support rate based on their full cost. However, if purchases such as testing, analysis, and measurement equipment are to be allocated to production activities rather than R&D after the project activities, they are considered expenses proportional to the project duration.

  • Proje kapsamında seri üretimine yönelik ekipman alımı desteklenmemekle birlikte Proje için alınması veya yaptırılması zorunlu olan alet, teçhizat, kalıp gibi alımların (bilgisayar ve yazılım hariç) seri üretimde de kullanılacak olması durumunda, ilgili giderler %40 oranı ile destek kapsamına alınır. Bu maliyete yönelik harcamaların desteklemeye esas harcama tutarları, “maliyet x %40” şeklinde belirlenir. Ancak alınması, yapılması veya yaptırılması zorunlu olan ve proje faaliyetleri için kullanıldıktan sonra, üzerinde önemli bir değişiklik yapılmaksızın faydalı ömrünün büyük bir bölümü rutin üretim faaliyetlerinde kullanılacak olan bileşenlere ait giderler için oransal destek alt sınırı GYK kararıyla %25’e indirilebilir.

  • Since the prototype products obtained as a result of the design, design implementation, and development activities that constitute the subject of the project are the elements that form the basis of the project's support, the procurement of materials, modules, systems, and services that will form the input for these products, even if they will later be used in production or commercialized within the company, are supported at the periodic support rate on their full cost.

  • If the equipment/tools to be used solely in R&D activities are also to be used in other R&D activities of the company, the proportional support application will not be applied; instead, these equipment/tools will be directly included in the support program after their necessity for the project is evaluated.

  • Expenses for tools/equipment/software and materials purchased from abroad by the organization will be supported, provided that the date of issuance of the expense and cost document is no more than 3 months prior to the project support start date and that the purchase in question is considered within the scope of the project support.

%75

(Seri üretimde de kullanılabilecek nitelikteki ekipman için %40 veya %25)

(Yerli Malı Belgeli Alet, Teçhizat, Yazılım için ilave %15)

Material and consumable expenses

  • Expenses for tools/equipment/software and materials purchased from abroad by the organization will be supported, provided that the date of issuance of the expense and cost document is no more than 3 months prior to the project support start date and that the purchase in question is considered within the scope of the project support.

%75

R&D Consulting and Service Procurement

  • Research and development (R&D) service expenses incurred by universities in Türkiye, R&D units affiliated with TÜBİTAK, private sector R&D organizations, and similar R&D institutions and organizations, as well as mandatory and complementary overseas consulting and service procurements for the project, provided that the main R&D activities of the project are carried out in Türkiye, can be supported after being evaluated on a project-by-project basis.

  • Yurt Dışı Danışmanlık ve Hizmet alımları, projenin dönemsel desteklemeye esas harcama tutarları toplamının azami %20’si olabilir.

%75

Procurement of Economic Feasibility Report services

  • If organizations submit an economic feasibility report, including detailed market research, market and competitor analysis, customer needs, etc., as an annex to their project proposal, the services obtained for the preparation of the economic feasibility report are supported. Expenses and costs related to the Economic Feasibility Report are also supported, provided that the date of preparation of the expense and cost document is no more than 3 months prior to the project support start date and that the purchase in question is considered within the scope of the project support.

  • Maximum support amount: 20,000 TL

  • Costs related to the Economic Feasibility Report, the document date of which is no more than 3 months prior to the project support start date, will be supported.

%75

Project Preparation and Development Expenses

  • Consultancy services obtained for the preparation of AGY101 and AGY301 documents can be supported. Expenses for these services must be declared in a single transaction and with the final AGY301 period of the project.

  • Maximum support amount: 10,000 TL

%75

Trip

  • Travel expenses for project personnel within the scope of the project, including intercity and international economy class transportation by plane, train, bus, and ship, are eligible for support.

%75

Certified Public Accountant fees

  • Certified Public Accountant fees are determined by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance. Minimum Fee Schedule for Independent Accountants, Independent Financial Advisors, and Certified Public Accountants’The support for R&D grant applications made by TÜBİTAK is based on the certified public accountant's fee applicable in these applications.

  • Since the financial report for the final period of the supported project is audited, reviewed, and certified by a Certified Public Accountant within 3 months following the period, the expenditure and expense documents related to the Certified Public Accountant's evaluation and certification of the financial report are submitted within the final period's financial report and included in the scope of support, even if they were prepared after the project's support end date.

%75

Supported expenses for process improvement projects using automation technologies or methods.

  • In process improvement projects that utilize automation technologies or methods, the following approach is used to determine the scope of support, along with variations required by project-specific evaluations:

    • Expenses related to personnel, travel, consultancy, and service procurement, as well as work to be carried out by domestic R&D organizations, are covered by the support program.

    • To test the developed process, test software and hardware are included in the support program with minimal material costs.

    • If the design and development activities of the tools, equipment, or systems included in the developed process are carried out within the organization, these expenses are covered by the support program.

%75

Unsupported expenses

  • VAT

  • All types of profit, opportunity cost, cost of capital utilization, contract expenses

  • Depreciation, deposits, advance payments

  • Distribution, marketing and advertising expenses

  • Patent, utility model, design, geographical indication, and trademark registration expenses.

  • Accounting, secretarial, etc. administrative expenses

  • Remuneration includes honorariums, membership fees paid to board members, and premium payments given in addition to gross salary, excluding bonuses.

  • Meal and transportation expenses provided to staff, either in cash or in kind.

  • Social welfare foundation contributions of the founding partners

  • Accommodation expenses

  • Intra-city transportation (excluding transportation from customs and ports) and postal expenses.

  • Car rental and fuel expenses during travel

  • Project-related expenses primarily consist of infrastructure investments for production that are not related to R&D activities.

  • Office equipment such as photocopiers and projectors, and office furnishings.

  • Energy costs for heating, lighting and production, water costs (These expenses may be supported depending on the necessity of R&D activities in project-specific evaluations.)

  • Telephone, fax, communication, and internet usage costs (In project-specific evaluations, expenses that may be supported within this scope may be considered in light of the necessity of R&D activities.)

  • Expenses not accepted under tax legislation

  • Office, warehouse, and booth rental expenses

  • Construction and installation costs (In project-specific evaluations, expenses eligible for support may include those related to R&D activities, taking into account the necessity of these activities.)

  • Stationery expenses (In project-specific evaluations, expenses eligible for support may include those necessary for R&D activities.)

  • CE (excluding testing costs) and quality certification costs.

Transfer Payment (Advance Payment)

Kuruluş talebine göre, TÜBİTAK bütçesine gider kaydedilmek üzere teminat karşılığında transfer ödemesi yapılabilir. Transfer ödemelerinin her biri destek kapsamına alınan toplam proje bütçesinin %25’ini geçemez.

  • Transfer ödemesi işlemlerinde, talep edilen ilk transfer ödemesinin %25 fazlası kadar teminat alınır. Teminat süresi, transfer ödemesine ilişkin talep ve değerlendirme, ödeme ve mahsup süreçleri, transfer ödemesinin amacı dışında kullanımı, teminat iade süreci ve diğer tüm hususlar Mali Rapor Hazırlama Kılavuzunda belirtildiği şekilde uygulanır.

  • The organization cannot request a transfer payment before the project contract is signed by TÜBİTAK. The organization that assigns (transfers) its receivables within the scope of the project cannot apply for a transfer payment (advance payment). Transfer payments cannot be assigned. Transfer payments will not be made to projects with less than 6 months remaining until the project support end date. The values that can be used as collateral are listed below.

    • Letters of guarantee issued by banks and financial institutions

    • A letter of guarantee or promissory note (KGF Letter of Guarantee) issued by institutions/organizations authorized by law to provide credit guarantees.

    • Document issued by the organization:

      • A maximum of 150,000 TL can be transferred as payment against a promissory note on a project basis.

      • The organization can receive transfer payments against promissory notes for only one project at a time.

      • After the offsetting process for the transfer payment against a promissory note is completed, a transfer payment against a promissory note can also be made for the organization's other projects, if any.

      • Payments made via transfer against a promissory note should be offset against a maximum of two installments.

      • For organizations whose promissory note-based transfer payment offset has been completed, transfer payments can be made for the same project against the aforementioned collateral.

      • The transfer payment to be made within the scope of the project cannot exceed the project budget included in the support program or the remaining project budget within the support program.

      • An organization that has received transfer payments against the aforementioned collateral will not receive transfer payments against promissory notes for the same project.

      • Organizations that have received bank transfer payments against promissory notes for any of their supported projects but have failed to pay the remaining amount after offsetting, as well as organizations found to have used bank transfer payments against promissory notes for purposes other than project activities, will not receive further bank transfer payments against promissory notes for their projects.

Points to Consider

  • Project proposals must include a project team member with at least a bachelor's degree in a field related to the project topic.

  • All movable assets purchased within the scope of the project, such as machinery, equipment, systems, modules, software, etc., belong to the organization.

  • Unless otherwise specified in the project agreement, all intellectual and industrial property rights that may arise in connection with the projects approved for funding shall be transferred to the discretion of the funded organization.

  • If the supported organizations commit to developing all or part of the outputs (technology, product, process, module, method, software, data, report, etc.) targeted in the project to a public institution or organization for a fee, they are obliged to notify TÜBİTAK of this fact within thirty days following the date the work was awarded (the date the tender decision was approved or, in the case of non-tendered procurements, the date the order/instruction to start work was given).

  • The organization must inform TÜBİTAK within fifteen days of any changes to the organization's address and contact information, the organization's authorized representative's address, the project manager's address, any changes to the organization's name, changes to the tax office and tax number, or changes to bank information. Otherwise, the organization bears all responsibility. It may be requested that these change notifications be made only through PRODİS.

  • If the activities supported in a project are procured as services for another organization's project, no support is requested for that service procurement; only the activities of the organization conducting the R&D activity are supported.

  • The project support start date is determined by the organization as the first day of the month in which the project proposal is submitted via PRODİS, or the first day of any month following the application date. TÜBİTAK may change the project support start date and duration, taking into account the supported activities as a result of the project evaluation process.

Evaluation Process

  • Projects deemed suitable in the preliminary evaluation will then enter the peer review process. The aim is for the project proposal to be submitted to TÜBİTAK with the required content and completeness, and then reviewed by the Group Executive Board (GYK), within a period of 60 days.

  • If the following critical findings are made, the project will be rejected without initiating the peer review process (through non-peer review).

    • All R&D activities in the project were completed by the organization prior to the project application, and there are no technical/technological problems that the organization needs to solve.

    • The organization does not contribute to the R&D activities. The R&D activities in the project will be carried out by the contracting institution/organization.

    • The project output has no technical/technological/legal/jurisdictional feasibility, usability, or industrial application potential.

    • This project does not involve industrial R&D and is solely an investment aimed at creating infrastructure such as production/laboratory facilities.

    • The organization does not have any project personnel with at least a bachelor's degree related to the project subject.

    • The project proposal was previously submitted to TÜBİTAK Support Programs and was rejected. The project was resubmitted without making any changes to the reasons for the previous rejection.

    • The information presented in the project proposal is insufficient for evaluation; only a limited amount of information has been provided.

  • If the aforementioned critical findings are made after the peer review, the projects will be rejected by the board without any scoring.

  • The Board's evaluation threshold is 50 points. Projects scoring at or below the threshold are rejected. Projects scoring above the threshold continue in the evaluation process.

  • Project scores are determined based on peer review and panel evaluations of the projects.

  • For projects recommended for approval by the relevant Executive Board, additional points will be awarded if the following criteria are met.

    • Commercialization performance of previously supported projects

    • The company has applied to international funds for projects.

    • The project proposal is presented at the following link: Priority Areas being in one

  • Final decisions for projects are made taking into account the project scores and the call budget.

  • For projects deemed eligible for support, a contract is signed between TÜBİTAK and the organization(s). In joint projects, only one project contract is prepared, specifying the Partner Organization and containing information about each organization. The project contract between TÜBİTAK and the organization can be signed with a secure electronic signature instead of a wet signature. Expenses related to the contract are borne by the organization. Once the contract signed by the organization is signed by TÜBİTAK, the AGY301 application submitted by the organization regarding the project is processed. The date of TÜBİTAK's signature is considered the contract date. However, the contract enters into force as of the project support start date. The project contract, prepared by TÜBİTAK and sent to the organization within the period specified in the support decision notification, must be signed by the organization and sent back to TÜBİTAK. Failure to send the project contract within the given period may result in TÜBİTAK canceling the support decision.

For more information and questions,

https://eteydeb.tubitak.gov.tr/teydebiletisim.htm

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