TÜBİTAK 1509 — International Industrial R&D Projects Grant Program

TÜBİTAK 1509 — International Industrial R&D Grant (Seed)

Supports Turkish participants in international research consortia through joint development partnerships with overseas programmes.

TÜBİTAK 1509 is the International Industrial R&D Grant, which provides domestic Turkish grant funding to Turkish industrial partners participating in international R&D consortia under approved multilateral or bilateral frameworks — including EUREKA, EUROSTARS, and bilateral programs between Türkiye and partner countries. The program operates on a co-funding model: the international consortium must first be approved by the relevant international body (EUREKA secretariat, EUROSTARS, or the bilateral program authority), and TÜBİTAK then separately funds only the Turkish partner's share of the approved project. The Turkish partner's grant application to TÜBİTAK is thus dependent on prior international approval, meaning the TÜBİTAK 1509 application timeline follows EUREKA/EUROSTARS call calendars rather than an independent TÜBİTAK schedule.

Eligible applicants under 1509 are for-profit Turkish companies registered and operating in Türkiye; universities, non-profits, and research-only organizations are not eligible as Turkish lead partners in this program. The program covers a broad range of technology sectors, including AI, biotechnology, climate and energy technologies, hardware, manufacturing, materials, and medtech, consistent with the sectors active under EUREKA and EUROSTARS. Award amounts are denominated in TRY, are published per approved project on the Turkish-language TÜBİTAK portal, and vary based on project scope and call-specific parameters.

The 1509 program is the correct route for Turkish companies that have already identified or formed an international R&D consortium and need domestic co-funding to participate. Companies should first engage with EUREKA national contact points or the relevant bilateral program authority to understand consortium requirements and call timelines, then apply to TÜBİTAK 1509 in parallel with or following the international submission. Turkish partners who have not yet secured an international consortium partner should not apply to 1509 — they should instead use 1501 for domestic-only R&D or explore the international joint call routes.