Obtaining patent protection beyond Türkiye can require substantial financial investment, particularly when pursuing protection before multiple patent offices. To encourage innovation and international commercialization of Turkish inventions, TÜBİTAK operates the 1602 Patent Support Program through its Technology and Innovation Funding Programs Directorate (TEYDEB).
The program provides financial support at various stages of the patenting process, including international patent applications, examination procedures, and patent registration. For technology companies, universities, research institutions, and individual inventors, these incentives can significantly reduce the cost of obtaining international patent protection.
Who Can Benefit from the Program?
The program is available to:
- Turkish citizens (in case of multiple applicants, all applicants should be Turkish citizen);
- Companies established in Türkiye;
- Universities, public institutions and organizations established in Türkiye.
Depending on the applicant category and support type, additional eligibility conditions may apply.
Overview of Available Support
The 1602 Patent Support Program currently consists of three principal stages:
- International Patent Application Support (PD-200)
- International Patent Examination Support (PD-201)
- Patent Registration Award (PD-202)
The support mechanisms are interconnected. As a general rule:
- Applicants seeking PD-201 support must first apply for PD-200.
- Applicants seeking the PD-202 registration award must first apply for PD-201.
Accordingly, applicants should consider support eligibility from the earliest stages of their patent strategy.
International Patent Application Support (PD-200)
PD-200 provides support for international patent applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), provided that TÜRKPATENT is selected as the Receiving Office.
The support covers the WIPO filing fee and the international search fee.
The level of support depends on the choice of International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA):
- If TÜRKPATENT is selected as the ISA/IPEA, the filing and search fees are supported at a rate of 100%, subject to the applicable support limits.
- If another competent authority is selected, the support covers 50% of the search fees, subject to the applicable support limits.
Unlike traditional grant or reimbursement schemes, applicants do not receive a direct payment from TÜBİTAK. To benefit from the support, the applicant must submit the prescribed support request form to TÜRKPATENT with a simple signature. The form may be filed together with the PCT application or within two months from the international filing date.
Upon receipt and processing of the request, the supported amounts are paid directly on behalf of the applicant through the cooperation mechanism established between TÜRKPATENT and TÜBİTAK. As a result, applicants are not required to pay the supported portion of the relevant fees upfront and subsequently seek reimbursement.
The support mechanism is intended to encourage greater use of TÜRKPATENT’s international search and examination services within the PCT system while reducing the initial costs associated with international patent protection.
International Patent Examination Support (PD-201)
PD-201 provides support for patent examination procedures conducted before major patent offices.
Support may be obtained for examination reports issued by:
- TÜRKPATENT
- European Patent Office (EPO)
- Japan Patent Office (JPO)
- China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA)
- Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO)
- United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Support Amounts
| Examination Office | Support Amount |
|---|---|
| TÜRKPATENT | TRY 40,000 |
| EPO | TRY 40,000 |
| JPO | TRY 40,000 |
| CNIPA | TRY 40,000 |
| KIPO | TRY 40,000 |
| USPTO | TRY 40,000 |
The cumulative International Patent Examination Support available for a single patent case (one international application being in multiple offices) cannot exceed TRY 240,000.
Important Consideration
The program should not be viewed as providing unlimited support for every national phase entry. Applicants should carefully review the applicable requirements and support conditions when planning international patent filings and examination requests.
Patent Registration Award (PD-202)
Applicants whose patents are granted by certain major patent offices may qualify for a registration award.
Award Amounts
| Granting Office | Award Amount |
|---|---|
| EPO | TRY 55,000 |
| JPO | TRY 55,000 |
| CNIPA | TRY 55,000 |
| KIPO | TRY 55,000 |
| USPTO | TRY 55,000 |
The award is available for each qualifying granted patent, subject to compliance with the program requirements.
For applicants pursuing protection in multiple international markets, these awards can contribute meaningfully toward the overall costs of building and maintaining a global patent portfolio.
Annual Application Limits
The number of patent applications that may benefit from support during a calendar year is limited.
Individuals
Natural persons may receive support for up to:
- Five patent applications per year.
Legal Entities
Companies, universities, and other legal entities may receive support for up to:
- Twenty patent applications per year.
For these purposes, national and international applications relating to the same invention are generally treated as separate applications.
Documentation Requirements
Applicants seeking support should be prepared to provide documentation such as:
- Official fee payment receipts;
- Invoices issued by relevant patent offices;
- Applicant-specific supporting documents; and
- Authorization documents where applications are filed through representatives.
Universities and other institutional applicants may be subject to specific documentary requirements.
Limitations of the Program
The 1602 Patent Support Program is intended specifically for patents.
The program does not generally provide support for:
- Utility models;
- Trademarks;
- Geographical indications;
- Logos; or
- Other non-patent intellectual property rights.
Applicants should therefore assess whether their intellectual property strategy falls within the scope of the program before applying.
Strategic Importance for Innovative Businesses
Obtaining patent protection in major jurisdictions such as Europe, the United States, China, Japan, and South Korea often involves significant costs. Examination fees, professional fees, and prosecution expenses can become substantial, particularly when protection is sought across multiple jurisdictions.
The TÜBİTAK 1602 Patent Support Program seeks to reduce part of this financial burden and encourage Turkish innovators to pursue broader international protection. The program may therefore play an important role in supporting commercialization, technology transfer, licensing activities, and international market expansion.
Conclusion
The TÜBİTAK 1602 Patent Support Program remains one of Türkiye’s most significant patent incentive mechanisms. Through support for international patent applications, examination proceedings before major patent offices, and registration awards for granted patents, the program aims to strengthen the international protection of inventions originating from Türkiye.
Applicants considering international patent protection should evaluate eligibility requirements and support opportunities at an early stage, particularly given the interconnected nature of the PD-200, PD-201, and PD-202 support mechanisms.