Deadline: 18 September 2025
Applications are now open for the SME Research and Development Start-Up Support Program 2025 to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) become more competitive by improving their technological and innovation capacities, enabling them to carry out systematic projects, develop high value-added products, have a corporate research and technology development culture, and participate more effectively in national and international support programs.
Aims
- This call aims to:
- Support project-based research, technology development, and innovation activities of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) organizations and companies through their supported projects;
- Encourage them to conduct R&D-quality innovation activities;
- Contribute to the establishment and dissemination of an R&D and innovation culture;
- Increase their competitiveness in national and international markets;
- Provide the competence to conduct joint or individual systematic R&D and innovation projects.
- By developing the R&D capacity of SME-scale companies, the aim is to increase localization in required technology areas, increase technology and product development competence, contribute to project outputs in economic growth, and ensure the effective use of public resources in line with national needs and goals.
Scope of Support
- 1507- Within the scope of the SME R&D Startup Support Program, R&D projects are supported within the scope of innovation, focusing on the production of a new product, the development or improvement of an existing product, the enhancement of product quality or standards, or the development of new cost-reducing techniques and new production technologies. The program’s support rate is 75%.
Funding Information
- Within the scope of the program, SMEs were given the right to receive 75% grant support for their first five projects, provided that at least two of them were joint applications.
- The maximum project budget is 3,000,000 TL.
Eligible Expenses
- Expense items supported under the program are listed below.
- Personnel expenses,
- Travel expenses,
- Purchase expenses for tools, equipment, software and publications,
- Material and consumable expenses,
- Expenses for domestic and international consultancy services and other services,
Who can apply?
- Only capital companies established in Türkiye and at the SME scale can apply for the SME R&D Support Program.
For more information, visit Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye.
