According to TÜBİTAK, the second tender for 2026 of the “European Partnership for Innovative SMEs / Eurostars-3 Program” was opened to increase the participation of organizations in Türkiye in international research and innovation collaborations.
The program supports innovative SMEs to increase their R&D, innovation capacity and productivity.
Projects aimed at developing new products, improving existing products, increasing quality and standards, creating new cost-reducing techniques and designing production technologies are expected under the tender.
The call supports SMEs based in Turkey who would like to apply with international R&D and innovation projects.
It is important to develop a product, process or service that can be brought to market in a short time through international research and development projects involving organizations from at least two Eurostars member countries and coordinated by an SME.
The program envisages the creation of specialized R&D and innovation consortia led by the private sector and involving universities and public institutions. The aim is therefore for organizations in Turkey to access international technology know-how, accelerate technology transfer and convert the acquired knowledge and experience into original technologies.
In addition, the products to be developed are intended to improve access to international markets and exports and to contribute to reducing import dependency and the current account deficit.
Capital companies based in Turkey, higher education institutions, public research centers and institutes, training and research hospitals and research infrastructures can apply for the tender.
If more than one organization from Türkiye is involved in the same international project, Turkish partners will apply together and not separately for a single national pre-project and a second-stage project.
Budget up to 850,000 euros for joint applications
In the tender with a total budget of 4 million euros, the budget of each Turkish project partner may not exceed 600,000 euros. In the case of a joint application from more than one institution or organization from Turkey, the total project budget can be a maximum of 850,000 euros.
The budget share of institutions that are not corporations may not exceed 50 percent of the total project budget and 300,000 euros. The duration of the projects is a maximum of 36 months.
The funding rate is 60 percent for large organizations and 75 percent for SMEs. Public administrations, special budget administrations, foundation universities, training and research hospitals as well as public research centers and institutes can receive funding of up to 100 percent.
International applications for the call close on September 10th.
National preliminary project applications will also close on September 24th. Projects that are accepted in the international assessment will not be re-evaluated by national assessors.
Supporting small and medium-sized businesses with TEYDEB programs
On the other hand, applications have already been received within the Industrial R&D Support and SME R&D Startup Support Programs implemented by TÜBİTAK Directorate of Technology and Innovation Support Programs (TEYDEB).
The programs support R&D and innovation projects to design and develop new products in all industries and technological fields, to improve existing products and to create new techniques and production technologies that increase product quality or reduce costs.
The Industrial Research and Development Support Program aims to increase the ability of SMEs to develop products for international markets, acquire competitive domestic technologies in areas where they are dependent on foreign countries, and create technological products with strong commercialization potential.
The SME R&D Startup Support Program is aimed at SMEs, especially those in the early stages of their R&D activities, to acquire systematic project delivery competence, spread the R&D and innovation culture in companies and increase localization and technological competitiveness.
75 percent support for the first 5 projects
The funding rate to be applied under the industrial R&D funding program in the new period will be determined gradually according to the number of funded projects of the company.
The funding rate is 75 percent for the companies' first five funded projects and 60 percent for the sixth and subsequent projects. In both cases, the grant support to be provided per project is a maximum of 20 million lira.
Projects with a maximum duration of 24 months can be submitted for the call for proposals. If the project cannot be completed within this period due to the effort required to convert the project output, for example a prototype or a clinical test, into a commercial product, the support period may be extended once by a maximum of 50 percent based on the assessment. The total period may not exceed 36 months.
In both programs, the commercialization performance of the corporate projects previously supported by TÜBİTAK will be included in the evaluation.
Only corporations that are considered SMEs are eligible to apply. The application deadline for the Industrial R&D Support Program is October 26th.
The closing date for the SME R&D Startup Support Program has been set for November 11th.
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