Industrial Doctorate Program Support

The deadline for applications to the 2019 call for proposals under the TÜBİTAK Scientist Support Programs Directorate's Industry Doctorate Program (code 2244) has been extended to December 31, 2019. The aim of this call is to cultivate qualified human resources with doctoral degrees needed in industry through university-industry collaboration, to encourage the employment of doctoral researchers in industry, and to develop university/research infrastructure-industry cooperation, all within the scope of Turkey's 2023 goals. To this end, the needs of companies will be prioritized, and the training of critical doctoral-level human resources will be ensured in collaboration with these companies. Private sector organizations and scholarship recipients are expected to reach an agreement regarding employment after doctoral graduation, committing to employment for three years, up to the seventh semester of the scholarship recipient's doctoral studies. Scholarship candidates are determined by the relevant university/research infrastructure in consultation with private sector organizations, in accordance with the provisions of the University's Postgraduate Education and Training Regulations, and reported to TÜBİTAK. Doctoral students (scholarship recipients) to be included in the project can be determined and submitted to TÜBİTAK in the periods following the academic year in which the support decision is made. The total number of doctoral students to be supported by a single private sector organization under this call cannot exceed 25, provided that the number of doctoral students supported in a single project does not exceed 10. Furthermore, the total number of active doctoral students to be supported under all calls cannot exceed 50 per private sector organization.

Suitable Models:

• University-Industry Collaboration Model
• Pre-competitive University-Industry Collaboration Model

Support elements:

• Scholarship Support for Doctoral Students
• Employment Support for Businesses
• Project Incentive Bonus (PIB) Payment to Project Managers

Universities/Research Infrastructure and Industrial Organizations that qualified for support under the 2018 call for proposals: https://www.tubitak.gov.tr/sites/default/files/3835/ek-universite_ve_sanayi_kuruluslari_listesi.pdf

Deadline for applications: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 (5:00 PM)

Announcement regarding the extension of the application deadline: https://www.tubitak.gov.tr/tr/duyuru/2244-sanayi-doktora-programi-basvuru-suresi-uzatildi

For the Announcement and Call for Proposals: http://www.tubitak.gov.tr/tr/burslar/lisansustu/egitim-burs-programlari/icerik-2244-sanayi-doktora-programi

Online application system: https://e-bideb.tubitak.gov.tr/giris.htm

Relevant Legislation

Definitions

Definition

Explanation

Group Executive Board (GYK)

The Executive Board of TÜBİTAK Scientist Support Groups, which forms opinions, suggestions and decisions on matters related to group activities.

Governing Body

State or foundation higher education institutions or research facilities in Turkey that provide doctoral education.

Private Sector Organization

Turkish-based capital companies or capital companies located within Technoparks that have R&D units and have received an R&D or Design Center certificate under Law No. 5746 on the Support of Research, Development and Design Activities.

Project Team

The team consists of the Project Manager, Executors, and Consultants (Academic Advisor and Industry Advisor).

Project Manager

The Project Manager is the individual responsible to TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) for the management of the project within the higher education institution/research infrastructure.

Project Coordinator

For Higher Education Institutions/Research Infrastructure, the Project Manager will be the person authorized by the Institution's official; for joint-stock companies, the Project Manager will be the person selected from among the R&D Center/Unit managers authorized by the company's official.

Advisor

Expert(s) assigned by BİDEB to evaluate and provide feedback on scholarship and support applications or to assist the BİDEB Group Executive Board.

Academic Advisor

During the project, faculty members from the University/Research Infrastructure will provide consultancy to a maximum of 4 students in thesis execution, based on industry needs.

Industry Consultant

Within the scope of the project, PhD students who will receive scholarships will be provided with mentorship by individuals working within industrial organizations during the portion of their education spent in the industry and during their post-graduation employment period.

Scholarship

Within the scope of the project, monthly payments are made to the university/research infrastructure special accounts in an amount and for a period determined by the Board of Directors to cover doctoral tuition expenses.

Scholarship recipient

Doctoral students who received scholarships within the scope of the Industrial Doctorate Program in Turkey.

Employment Support

After scholarship recipients who have completed their doctoral studies within the specified maximum period are employed, the managing institution will verify the relevant documents regarding salary payments, including monthly summary and premium service declarations and bank statements showing that the net salary has been paid, before transferring the payment to the account of the private sector organization(s) involved in the project.

Project Incentive Bonus (PIB)

In supported projects, public officials working within the scope of the project and in services related to the project are eligible, provided that their participation is limited to the project duration.

The amount paid to those in the staff or positions of the institutions or organizations, not exceeding % 75 of the amount paid monthly depending on their staff or position, and as determined in the project contract according to the principles set by the Board of Directors.

Area of Specialization

Technology Activity Areas included in the e-BİDEB application system (The area of specialization may encompass more than one doctoral program.)

Who can apply?

Project applications can be submitted within the following two categories:

Cooperation Model

Collaborating Organizations

Other Partnership Terms

University-Industry Collaboration Model

(İstihdam desteği %40 oranında)

• A state or foundation university offering doctoral education within the country, or a research infrastructure that has obtained qualifications under Law No. 6550.
• A private sector organization
  • Companies with the status of Capital Companies that own R&D and/or Design Centers within the scope of Law No. 5746
  • Companies with the status of Capital Companies operating in Technology Development Zones
  • Private sector organizations that have completed at least one project supported by TÜBİTAK.

• A single private sector organization cannot support a maximum of 25 PhD students under this call, provided that the number of PhD students supported under a single project does not exceed 10. Furthermore, the total number of active PhD students supported under all calls cannot exceed 50 per private sector organization.
• A protocol outlining the planned number of students to be trained within the doctoral program, the areas of specialization to be taught, the portion of the training to be conducted within the industry, and the opportunities (consulting, etc.) to be provided to students by private sector organizations must be signed between the higher education institutions or research infrastructures involved in the project and the private sector organizations.
• If research infrastructures that have obtained qualifications under Law No. 6550 apply, they must have a protocol in place with the university where the doctoral scholarship recipients are planned to receive their education within the scope of the project.
• A separate application must be submitted for each protocol to be established between the University/Research Infrastructure and the Private Sector Organization(s). Multiple applications must be submitted for multiple protocols.
• University-industry collaboration projects require at least 3 doctoral students to be included in the doctoral program per specialization area.
• Pre-competitive university-industry collaboration projects require at least 5 doctoral students to be included in the doctoral program per specialization area.
  • In pre-competitive university-industry collaboration projects to be submitted jointly by capital companies established in Türkiye within technoparks, it is sufficient for at least 3 doctoral students to be included in the doctoral program, provided that the project is related to the field of activity.

Pre-competitive University-Industry Collaboration Model

(İstihdam desteği %60 oranında)

• A state or foundation university offering doctoral education within the country, or a research infrastructure that has obtained qualifications under Law No. 6550.
• At least 2 private sector organizations
  • Companies with the status of Capital Companies that own R&D and/or Design Centers within the scope of Law No. 5746
  • Companies with the status of Capital Companies operating in Technology Development Zones
  • Private sector organizations that have completed at least one project supported by TÜBİTAK.

Criteria for Students to Receive Scholarships Under the Program

• For the doctoral program, a master's degree with thesis is required; for the integrated doctoral program, a bachelor's degree is required.
• Meeting the application and admission requirements specified by the YÖK Graduate Education and Training Regulation and the higher education institution to which the application is being made.
• If currently pursuing doctoral studies at a higher education institution, the thesis proposal must not have been approved by the Institute.
• Not having been dismissed from public service or having their employment terminated due to measures taken during a state of emergency.
• Not having any affiliation, membership, connection, or contact with terrorist organizations or structures, formations, or groups that the National Security Council has determined to be acting against the national security of the State.
• Not having received any disciplinary punishment according to the provisions of the Higher Education Institutions Student Disciplinary Regulations.

Supporting

Support

Explanation

Support Amount Upper Limit

Scholarship Support for Doctoral Students

• Scholarship recipients to be included in the project will be selected and submitted to TÜBİTAK within one year from the date the project contract comes into effect.
• The duration of the scholarship to be given to students within the scope of the project is a maximum of 48 months from the date of enrollment in the doctoral program for those pursuing a doctoral education after a thesis-based master's degree, and a maximum of 60 months from the date of enrollment in the doctoral program for those pursuing an integrated doctoral education.
  • The scholarship recipients' scientific preparation period is not included in the scholarship period.
  • However, if the duration of education exceeds 10 semesters for doctoral studies following a thesis-based master's degree, or 12 semesters for integrated doctoral studies, starting from the period when doctoral courses are taken, scholarship payments will not be made.
  • The scholarship ends at the end of the month corresponding to the graduation date written on the graduation certificate issued by the student affairs unit of the institute. No scholarship payments will be made in the months following the graduation date.
  • Any changes in the status of scholarship recipients within the scope of the program, such as suspension of registration, withdrawal from registration, change of advisor, change of field or department, etc., must be reported to TÜBİTAK by the project manager within ten days of the date the change occurred.
    • Scholarship recipients are required to continue their studies uninterrupted for the duration of their scholarship. Scholarship payments are suspended for those whose enrollment is frozen by the institute. In such cases, the scholarship period and maximum study period are extended by the duration of the suspension, provided that the resumption of academic work is documented. The maximum enrollment suspension period for doctoral studies is 4 semesters. Requests for enrollment suspensions exceeding this period are evaluated and decided upon by the General Executive Board. For those who have frozen their enrollment before being selected as a scholarship recipient, the period of enrollment suspension is not added to their scholarship period but is added to their maximum study period. Changes to thesis topic during doctoral studies...
    • Even if this is done, the maximum completion times specified in the call for proposals will not be exceeded.
• Scholarships are deposited regularly each month into the bank accounts of scholarship recipients included in the project by the University/Research Infrastructure following the signing of the contract, for as long as their studies continue.
• The monthly scholarship amount may vary, and the scholarship may be a full or partial grant, depending on whether the recipient has other income such as wages, salary, or business earnings.
  • Scholarship recipients who begin receiving income from another source while receiving a full scholarship will be switched to partial scholarship status, and those who document that their income(s) have been discontinued while receiving a partial scholarship will be switched to full scholarship status. Full/partial scholarship payments will commence from the day the scholarship recipient switches from full to partial or partial scholarship status. In cases such as switching from full to partial or partial scholarship status, a month is considered to have 30 days, and the calculation will be based on the number of days.
• Researchers currently employed by private sector organizations can be included in this program as fellows. In this case, employment support begins after the graduation of the doctoral fellow(s) included in the program.
• Proje kapsamında doktora bursiyerlerine verilecek bursun en az %25’i projeye dahil olan özel sektör kuruluş/kuruluşları tarafından karşılanır.
• If scholarship recipients supported under this project change their university/research infrastructure and/or field of study, their scholarship will be terminated.
• Within the scope of the project, the budget allocated for scholarships and/or employment support, determined for each period, will be transferred by the committing parties to the project-specific account opened by the university/research infrastructure following the signing of the contract by the parties, while the allocations for subsequent periods will be transferred upon acceptance of the progress reports.
• According to the regulations governing postgraduate education at universities, if there is a change in the scholarship recipient's status (such as freezing their registration, terminating their affiliation with the University/Research Infrastructure, etc.), the suspension or termination of scholarships will be carried out by the University/Research Infrastructure.
• The University/Research Infrastructure is responsible for monitoring the semester academic performance and attendance/absence records of scholarship recipients, and for ensuring the regular payment of scholarships.
• Scholarship recipients may go abroad for research purposes related to their thesis topics for a maximum of two semesters during the thesis phase, with the permission of their thesis advisor and project manager. Scholarship recipients under this program may also be supported for research for a maximum of one semester without further scientific evaluation, provided they meet the application requirements and success criteria specified in the 2214-A Overseas Doctoral Research Scholarship Program call for proposals. Domestic scholarship payments under the Industrial Doctorate Program are suspended for scholarship recipients under this program during the relevant semesters. The time spent abroad is included in the doctoral education period.
• Those receiving scholarships from projects supported by TÜBİTAK, as well as those receiving monthly scholarships from other public institutions/organizations, may receive scholarship payments under this program. However, the total scholarship amount calculated taking into account the monthly scholarship amount received from projects supported by TÜBİTAK or other public institutions/organizations cannot exceed the monthly scholarship upper limit determined by the Board of Directors for this program for that year. Individuals receiving or entitled to receive scholarships from public institutions/organizations are subject to these conditions.
• If the project is included in the program, this will be reported to TÜBİTAK in writing by the project manager.
• Doctoral students benefiting from the 2211 Domestic Postgraduate Scholarship Program can transfer to this program provided they meet the application requirements specified in the program announcement, are accepted by the university/research infrastructure, and are approved by TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey).

Doctoral Scholarship:

• Total: 4,500 TL/month
• Partial: 800 TL/month

Employment Support for Businesses

• The private sector organization and the scholarship recipients are expected to finalize their employment commitment by reaching an agreement by the 7th semester of the scholarship recipient's doctoral studies. If an agreement is reached, a contract will be signed between the scholarship recipient and the private organization providing employment, stipulating a mandatory 3-year employment period after doctoral graduation, and this contract will be submitted to TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey).
  • In cases where an agreement cannot be reached, the project manager informs TÜBİTAK with a stated reason, and the relevant scholarship recipients are given a maximum of one year, by decision of the General Executive Board, to transfer their employment support to another private sector organization. Within this period, the project manager submits reasoned information regarding the private sector organization to which the employment support is to be transferred to TÜBİTAK. The General Executive Board decides whether the proposed private sector organization is suitable for the project scope, after obtaining the opinion of the consultant. The private sector organization to which the scholarship recipient will transfer their employment support must sign an additional protocol with the project manager institution and submit it to TÜBİTAK. Furthermore, for TÜBİTAK to transfer the employment support, the relevant private sector organization must sign and submit a commitment letter regarding its obligations to TÜBİTAK. If no agreement is reached with any organization within the one-year period, a reasoned petition regarding the scholarship recipient is submitted to TÜBİTAK by the project manager. The scholarship recipient's situation is evaluated and decided upon by the General Executive Board.
• Within the scope of the project, the duration of employment support to be provided to private sector organizations is a maximum of 36 months after the student graduates from their doctoral studies.
• The performance criteria that employed doctoral fellows must meet during their employment period within the scope of the project are defined in advance by the relevant private sector organization. If fellows fail to meet the necessary performance criteria, their employment contracts are terminated, and the employment support provided to them is also terminated.
• Within the scope of the project, the budget allocated for scholarships and/or employment support, determined for each period, is transferred by the parties to the project-specific account opened by the university/research infrastructure after the contract is signed, and subsequent period allocations are transferred by the committing parties upon acceptance of the progress reports. In the employment support phase, the amount of employment support to be transferred to the private sector organization is transferred by the managing institution to the private sector organization's account.
• When determining the amount of employment support to be transferred monthly to the private sector organization by the project management institution, it is expected that the employment targets for doctoral researchers will also be taken into consideration.
• If the employed doctoral researcher benefits from incentives and support under laws 5746 and 4691, or receives grants from other public institutions and organizations, the support payment will be made based on the remaining amount after deducting these supports and incentives from personnel costs.
• The first phase of employment support payments is transferred to the account of the Private Sector Organization(s) involved in the project by the Managing Institution in the month following the commencement of employment of the Doctoral Scholarship recipients, after the relevant individual(s) have had their monthly summary and premium service declarations and bank statements confirming payment of net wages verified.
• During the employment support phase, the amount of employment support to be transferred to the private sector organization is transferred by the managing institution to the private sector organization's account.

Compensation to be paid to employed researchers:

• Üniversite-Sanayi İşbirliği modelinde istihdam edilen araştırmacılara ödenen ücretin %40’ı Bursiyerin mezuniyeti sonrasında maksimum 3 yıl süreyle TÜBİTAK tarafından desteklenir. İstihdam desteği için aylık destek miktarı Üniversite-Sanayi İşbirliği modelinde ilgili dönemde geçerli brüt asgari ücretin en fazla 2 katını aşamaz.
• Rekabet Öncesi Üniversite-Sanayi İşbirliği modelinde ise verilen ücretin %60’ı Bursiyerin mezuniyeti sonrasında maksimum 3 yıl süreyle TÜBİTAK tarafından desteklenir. İstihdam desteği için aylık destek miktarı Rekabet Öncesi İşbirliği Modelinde ilgili dönemde geçerli brüt asgari ücretin 3 katını aşamaz.
• The monthly base salary paid to the scholarship recipient by the industrial establishment during the employment period cannot be less than twice the gross minimum wage.

PTI Payment to Project Managers

• Desteklenen projelerde üniversite/araştırma altyapısı bünyesindeki proje yöneticisine proje süresiyle sınırlı olmak üzere ve akademik danışman/lara tez dönemleri süresince ödenecek Proje Teşvik İkramiyesi (PTİ) tutarı TÜBİTAK Yönetim Kurulu tarafından belirlenir. Belirlenen toplam PTİ’nin %50’si gelişme raporlarının; %50’si ise akademik danışmanlar için programa dahil olan tüm öğrencilerin doktora mezuniyetlerinin raporlanması sonrası, üniversiteler/araştırma altyapıları bünyesindeki proje yöneticileri için ise proje sonuç raporunun kabul edilmesi ile ödenir. Proje bitiş tarihinden sonra yalnızca PTİ ödemesi yapılabilir.
• If the number of scholarship recipients in the project changes during the monitoring process, the amount of the thesis-based scholarship to be paid to the academic advisor will be recalculated and paid in the following reporting period.

Project Incentive Bonus Upper Limit:

• Project Manager: 400 TL/month (If the Project Manager is also the Academic Advisor on the project, they can only receive Project Manager salary as a manager.)
• Academic Advisor: 300 TL per student/month (Paid for a maximum of 4 students per academic advisor per year.)

Project duration:

• The project duration is a maximum of 84 months, including scholarship and employment support periods, for projects that do not include integrated doctoral students.
  • However, upon a reasoned request from the project manager, this period can be extended to a maximum of 120 months by a decision of the General Executive Board.
• The project duration is a maximum of 96 months for projects with integrated doctoral students, including periods of scholarship and employment support.
  • However, upon a reasoned request from the project manager, this period can be extended to a maximum of 132 months by a decision of the General Executive Board.

Evaluation process and criteria

• During the preliminary review phase, application documents are checked in accordance with the program's application requirements.
• The evaluation is conducted by expert panelists/consultants based on the following criteria.
  • The project aims to ensure compatibility between the areas and skills required by the private sector organization(s) and the doctoral programs and specialization areas where scholarship recipients will receive training.
  • The adequacy of the university's/research infrastructure's academic and technical capacity for the doctoral program (physical space and research opportunities to be offered to doctoral fellows, number and competence of faculty members, etc.)
  • The field of activity, areas of expertise, and R&D or design center infrastructure of the private sector organization(s) included in the protocol must be compatible with the doctoral program fields in which the scholarship recipients will receive their education.
  • The institutional governance system and monitoring to be implemented during the implementation process of the proposed program (coordination of students in the program, student counseling, monitoring system, career planning processes, etc.)
    • Framework and planning for how education and R&D activities will be conducted.
      • Identifying the areas/skills needed by private sector organization(s).
      • Planning an educational curriculum that meets the needs.
      • Planning for mentorship that private sector organization(s) will provide to doctoral students through industry consultants.
      • Planning the portion of the training process that will take place within the industry (R&D projects they will be involved in, etc.)
      • Performance monitoring system for doctoral students.
    • A plan for the employment of students by private sector organizations after their doctoral graduation.
      • Performance measurement and monitoring plan for doctoral researchers during the employment support period, including their involvement in R&D activities (projects, etc.) and the R&D outputs they produce.
  • The contribution that employed doctoral researchers will make to the R&D and innovation capacity of private sector organization(s).
• Other factors considered in the evaluations include:
  • Projects involving doctoral fellows will be given priority during the evaluation phase if the higher education institution/research infrastructure offers additional resources to these projects. (For example, domestic and/or international contributions to students during their studies (conference participation support, etc.), social benefits (including accommodation, food, medical/health services)).
  • The protocol should include a plan for sharing the commercial value derived from the R&D results obtained from doctoral dissertation studies.
• The evaluation results are submitted to the Presidency with the recommendation of the General Executive Board. The applications to be supported and the support amounts are finalized with the approval of the Presidency.
• To initiate the support process, the project contract must be signed by the project manager and the Project Executor(s) and submitted to TÜBİTAK within 4 months of the support decision.

Points to consider:

• Before applying Call for Proposals It is recommended to review the relevant legislation mentioned above.
• If a private partner organization requests to withdraw from the project due to force majeure, the project management organization will propose a new private organization within 3 months. If TÜBİTAK approves the new private organization, a commitment letter will be obtained from the new organization stating that it will comply with all the provisions of the signed project contract, and the existing contract provisions will remain in effect. Contributions made by private sector organizations that withdraw from the project will not be refunded.
• Reporting and PTI Payments:
  • Following the signing of the project contract, the first installment of funding is transferred to the project-specific account opened by the managing institution. The first installment of employment support is transferred to the account of the private sector organization(s) involved in the project by the managing institution in the month following the commencement of employment of the doctoral scholarship recipients, after verifying the relevant documents regarding wage payments, including monthly withholding tax and social security contribution declarations and bank statements showing that the net wage has been paid.
  • The project manager shall submit the final report, which includes all scientific, financial, and technical developments of the project, to TÜBİTAK within a maximum of one month following the final report submission date specified in the project contract, in a format prepared by TÜBİTAK. Additionally, foundation universities shall submit an audit and certification report prepared by a Certified Public Accountant, covering all project expenditures and in a format determined by TÜBİTAK, along with the project final report to TÜBİTAK.
  • If progress and results reports are submitted after the dates specified in the contract, except in cases of force majeure acceptable to the GYK, no PTİ payment will be made for that reporting period.
  • The final report will indicate the number of scholarship recipients who completed their doctoral studies and those who did not, taking into account the maximum timeframes specified in this call for proposals.
  • During the employment support period, the supported private sector organization submits a periodic activity report, prepared every six months, to TÜBİTAK through the project manager. This report details the activities carried out by the employed doctoral researchers within the private sector organization(s) (such as R&D and innovation projects), and compares this information with the employment plan submitted during the application phase.
  • The protocol includes provisions for monitoring, on an annual basis, the employment targets set by the private sector for scholarship recipients up to the sixth semester of their doctoral studies, and for addressing the situation where these targets are not met for two consecutive semesters.
  • For projects whose final report is deemed unsatisfactory, the project's special account will be closed without transferring the final period's PTİ (Project Management) allocation.

For more information and questions:

Tel: 444 66 90

e-mail: bideb2244@tubitak.gov.tr