Research funding organisations
National funding opportunities
National funding organisations provide a comprehensive support ecosystem aimed at strengthening academic research, developing qualified researchers, supporting innovative industrial solutions, enhancing research and development capacity in the health sciences and accelerating regional development. TTO research funding specialist: Yağmur Kökçü (yagmur.kokcu@acibadem.edu.tr).
- ARDEB – TÜBİTAK Directorate for Research Support Programs: Supports scientific research projects conducted by universities and research institutions.
- BİDEB – TÜBİTAK Directorate for Scientist Support Programs: Contributes to the development of qualified researchers by providing scholarships and support programs for undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers.
- TEYDEB – TÜBİTAK Directorate for Technology and Innovation Support Programs: Provides financial support for industry-oriented R&D projects, innovative product development activities, and university–industry collaboration initiatives.
- TÜSEB – Turkish Institutes of Health (TÜSEB): Supports projects, research fellowships, and research infrastructure investments in biotechnology, medicine, and health sciences, contributing to the advancement of Türkiye's health research ecosystem.
- ISTKA – Istanbul Development Agency: Implements regional development support programs. It aims to enhance Istanbul's competitiveness by providing grants for projects focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and social development.
- KOSGEB – Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization: Supports SMEs through funding for R&D, innovation, digitalization, entrepreneurship, and export-oriented projects. Its objective is to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of small and medium-sized enterprises.
International funding opportunities
International funding organisations support research, innovation and international collaboration through the European Union and other international bodies. TTO business development and research funding specialist: Cansu Akın Levi (cansu.levi@acibadem.edu.tr).
Horizon Europe is the EU’s largest research and innovation programme for 2021–2027. It funds consortia of universities, research institutions, industry and public organisations and is organised in three pillars and a horizontal component:
| Pillar / component | Sub-programmes | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| Pillar I: Excellent Science | ERC, MSCA, Research Infrastructures | Scientific excellence, frontier research and the international mobility of researchers. |
| Pillar II: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness | Clusters: Health; Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society; Digital, Industry and Space; Climate, Energy and Mobility; Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment. Missions: Cancer, Climate Adaptation, Restore our Ocean and Waters, Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, A Soil Deal for Europe | Global societal challenges, European industrial competitiveness and high-impact research with global reach. |
| Pillar III: Innovative Europe | EIC, European Innovation Ecosystems, EIT | Scaling innovative ideas, entrepreneurship ecosystems and commercialisation of emerging technologies. |
| Widening Participation and Strengthening the ERA (WIDERA) | WIDERA | Strengthening the European Research Area and broadening participation in excellence. |
Platforms: the Funding & Tenders Portal (projects), CORDIS (results) and the TÜBİTAK Horizon Europe portal (national support, events and training).
Other international programmes
- Erasmus+: An EU programme that provides funding for mobility, cooperation, and capacity-building projects in education, youth, and adult learning. It offers funding opportunities for universities, research institutions, and civil society organizations.
- Innovative Health Initiative (IHI): An EU public-private partnership that supports collaborative research and innovation in the health sector. It funds projects in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, and digital health.
- COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology): A European funding programme that supports international research collaboration by establishing scientific networks and working groups. Rather than funding research projects directly, it facilitates networking, knowledge exchange, and researcher mobility.
- EUREKA / Eurostars: Supports industry-driven international research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) projects. It provides opportunities for SMEs, universities, and research organizations to develop collaborative international projects.
- NIH (National Institutes of Health, USA): One of the world's leading funding agencies for health and biomedical research. It supports a wide range of research projects and welcomes international collaborations.
- Wellcome Trust: An independent global charitable foundation that funds research and innovation in health, biomedical sciences, and related fields.
Internal funding
Internal research funding runs through the Scientific Research Projects Commission (ABAPKO) and conference, publication and training support through the Academic Activities Support Commission (AFDK); see Strategy, funding & policies. Every external application is recorded in DAPSİS before submission.