It is a "Technology Development Center" supported by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Industry and Technology's Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization (KOSGEB), responsible for providing services to entrepreneurs and enterprises in pre-incubation, incubation, and post-incubation processes, such as business development, access to financial resources, management, consultancy, mentorship, office, and network participation.
Following applications submitted by institutions (Private Companies, Universities, Technology Development Zone Management Companies, Organized Industrial Zones, Municipalities, Chambers and Exchanges, etc.) to KOSGEB, the right to use the TEKMER term, protected under the Industrial Property Law No. 6769, is granted to those deemed eligible by the Board.
The KOSGEB TEKMER Support Program has been in effect since March 2019, and during this period, 39 TEKMERs have been established across 8 different provinces in Turkey.
For entrepreneurs and enterprises to participate in TEKMERs, they must have technology- or innovation-focused business ideas or projects prepared within the theme determined by the relevant TEKMER.
Entrepreneur candidates, entrepreneurs, enterprises, or micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises can apply to İTTM with R&D and Innovation projects. Since İTTM is the first and only technology development center in Turkey in the field of agricultural digitalization, it is open to applications from all national-level entrepreneurs and enterprises working in this area.
After project applications are submitted to evaluating referees, the Operating Institution Evaluation Board decides on allocation of space to projects deemed suitable for TEKMER in terms of alignment with the TEKMER theme, R&D and innovation aspects, feasibility, commercialization potential, and team competence. Following this stage, the allocation process begins for R&D projects approved to be conducted within TEKMER.
İTTM supports the development and commercialization of agricultural technologies by providing entrepreneurs with the necessary physical environment, infrastructure, and business connections for IT-based R&D studies in the agriculture sector. Thanks to the laboratories and equipment within İTTM, entrepreneurs can focus their financial resources on solution development rather than infrastructure investment.
The “KOSGEB TEKMER Support Program,” which grants the right to use the TEKMER name, offers various opportunities for entrepreneurs or enterprises whose project applications are approved by the İTTM Operating Institution. Entrepreneurs can benefit from various tax reductions and incentive elements provided under the Law No. 5746 on Supporting Research, Development, and Design Activities.
Beyond this, İTTM provides agricultural lands and application areas, allowing developed technologies to be tested under real-life conditions, on real products, and with actual users. This helps entrepreneurs evaluate the effectiveness and real-world performance of their products in agricultural applications and make necessary improvements.
İTTM also aims to contribute to the development of all stakeholders involved in agricultural technologies (private sector, public institutions, agricultural producers, researchers) by offering training, academic consultancy, and business development consultancy services tailored to their needs. These services facilitate stakeholders’ access to the knowledge, skills, and resources they require, accelerating innovation and development in the sector.
It is supported under the Law on Supporting Research and Design Activities, and enterprises within TEKMER benefit from certain tax exemptions and reliefs under this law. The exemptions and reliefs enjoyed by R&D and Design Centers under the same law include R&D and Design Deduction, Personnel Income Tax Incentive, Customs Duty Exemption, Income Tax Withholding Incentive, Stamp Duty Exemption, and Personnel Social Security Premium Support.
These are companies allocated space in TEKMER to contribute to the development of business ideas or enterprises for entrepreneurs, firms, and TEKMER enterprises. These large-scale companies are not required to submit or carry out projects and will not benefit from related tax advantages. However, they will fully contribute to providing business development support to entrepreneurs and enterprises within the İTTM theme, acting as potential customers and/or suppliers for entrepreneurs and enterprises; enhancing the potential to create value-added products and attract investments; offering access to financing opportunities within the ecosystem; and providing training or mentorship support in product development and commercialization in the fields of agriculture and information technologies.
“Smart Agriculture Technologies” vertical R&D project applications not only offer the option to participate in İTTM with your existing company (or a company planned to be established after project evaluation), but also include pre-incubation and incubation programs that will be launched in the short term. You can follow our upcoming announcements to apply for these programs, which will provide support for early-stage projects and business plans of ventures that are not yet planning to incorporate, in the process of incorporation, or recently incorporated.
Although İTTM does not provide direct financial support to its entrepreneurs, it facilitates meetings and discussions with our partners, stakeholders, and connected investors—such as angel investors, venture capital firms, corporate venture capital companies, angel investor networks, and crowdfunding platforms—enabling entrepreneurs to access funding and network connections during the fundraising and commercialization phases.