The TÜBİTAK 1507 SME R&D Startup Grant Programme is an R&D financing programme that gives SMEs with fewer than 250 employees a non-repayable grant covering 75% of the R&D project budget. A brilliant idea is not enough on its own; its technical, financial and commercial sides must be built into a project that convinces the reviewers.
The TÜBİTAK 1507 opportunity in technoparks
SMEs operating in technology development zones and organised industrial zones work in a competitive R&D environment, where well-prepared files stand out. Three factors give an SME’s file the edge with reviewers:
- Academic collaboration: Academic consulting from a university strengthens the project’s R&D methodology.
- Priority topic fit: In the 2026/2 call, priority is given to projects in TÜBİTAK’s 2026-2028 Priority R&D and Innovation Topics; projects under “Technological Leap in Industry” and “Digital Leadership” receive 5 extra points if they pass the committee threshold.
- Collaborative projects: 1507 supports a company’s first 5 projects, provided at least two of them are collaborative; SMEs’ joint projects are also taken into account in the evaluation.
Programme scope: who can apply?
Only SME-scale companies (joint-stock or limited) can apply: businesses with fewer than 250 employees and annual net sales or a balance sheet total not exceeding TRY 1 billion. Sole proprietorships are not eligible. The programme supports a company’s first 5 projects, at least two of which must be partnership projects (up to 3 single-company and 2 partnership projects).
Key differences between TÜBİTAK 1507 and 1501
Companies are often unsure which programme to apply for. The table below makes it easier to choose the right one.
| Feature | TÜBİTAK 1507 (SME Start-up) | TÜBİTAK 1501 (Industrial R&D) |
|---|---|---|
| Target group | SMEs carrying out their first 5 projects | SME-scale companies (joint-stock or limited); comprehensive R&D projects |
| Project budget limit | TRY 3,500,000 | Up to TRY 20,000,000 TÜBİTAK contribution per project |
| Support rate | 75% (fixed grant) | 75% for the first 5 projects, 60% from the 6th project on |
| Project duration | Up to 18 months | Up to 24 months in the 2026/2 call (up to 36 months with an extension) |
| Number of applications | First 5 projects (at least two as partnership projects) | Not capped by the programme; up to 2 proposals in the 2026/2 call (including 1507) |
| Review process | Reviewer assessment and committee evaluation (threshold: 60 points) | Reviewer assessment and committee evaluation (threshold: 60 points) |
For current budget limits and the call calendar, follow TÜBİTAK’s official website.
5 key steps to writing a successful project
1. Define the R&D content clearly
Using an existing technology does not count as R&D. What does your project add to the current literature or market standard, and which technical uncertainty does it resolve? The “Innovative Aspects” section should use technical terminology but remain easy to follow.
2. Back the commercialisation plan with concrete data
The programme does not fund a product that will sit on the shelf. Who will you sell the project output to, at what price and through which channel? If you are a machinery manufacturer in OSTİM, document your export potential with market size data; competitor analysis is an essential part of this section.
3. Build a realistic budget
Inflated budget items, or equipment purchases that make the project look like an investment project, are among the leading reasons for rejection. Personnel, instruments and equipment, materials, consulting and travel items must each match a work package, and person-month ratios must be defensible.
4. Carry out a thorough literature review
Project files that ignore similar technologies abroad lose credibility with reviewers. Patent searches and analysis of academic publications are the strongest tools for substantiating your project’s claim to originality.
5. Prepare for the reviewer visit
An application submitted through the Project Evaluation and Monitoring System (PRODİS) goes through preliminary evaluation, reviewer assignment and a committee decision. The reviewer visit is the most critical moment, the one that decides the project’s fate. At FIX, we hold rehearsal presentations with your company before this visit and work through likely technical questions together.
Common mistakes and reasons for rejection
- Lack of R&D content: Reducing the project to pure engineering or design work.
- Weak commercialisation plan: Output projections backed by abstract statements rather than data.
- Inconsistent budget: Adding unnecessary equipment to renew the company’s machinery.
- Insufficient literature review: A project file cut off from the international patent and publication landscape.
- Choosing the wrong programme: Losing valuable time by applying to 1501 instead of 1507, or the other way round.
Beyond the R&D grant: growing through exports
For SMEs that complete their R&D investment, the natural next step is international markets. Through FIX’s export and business development consulting, we match your R&D output with global buyers using market data, not guesswork.
For a full picture of TÜBİTAK grants and other support mechanisms, see our Grant and Incentive Consulting page.