G/SCM/Q2/TUR/50  
 
4 April 2024 
(24-2912) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures  Original: English  
 
  
SUBSIDIES  
REPLIES TO QUESTIONS1 POSED BY THE UNITED KINGDOM REGARDING  
THE NEW AND FULL NOTIFICATION OF T ÜRKİYE2 
The following communication, dated and received on 4 April 2024, is being circulated at the request 
of the delegation of Türkiye . 
 
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Turk Eximbank 's Programmes  
Question 1  
1.  Could Türkiye please provide information on the number of clustering initiatives which 
were receiving support during the reporting period?  
The notification states that clustering initiatives 'should compose of the alliance of at least 
20 firms '. 
Reply : 
Türk Eximbank does not provide support to  clustering initiatives.  
 
Question 2  
2.  Could Türkiye please clarify:  
a. If there is a minimum number of enterprises that are required for clustering 
initiatives to be able to apply for support under the scheme?  
b. If foreign enterprises operating in Türkiye can participate in clustering 
initiatives?  
Reply : 
a. Türk Eximbank does not provide suppor t to clustering initiatives.  
b. Türk Eximbank does not provide support to  clustering initiatives.  
Cluster Support Program  
Question 3  
3.  Could Türkiye please provide further information on the eligibility criteria for the 
scheme, including which sectors, activities and types of firms can apply for support?  
 
1 G/SCM/Q2/TUR/48  
2 G/SCM/N/401/TUR  G/SCM/Q2/TUR/50  
 
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  Reply : 
Target groups are (regardless of sector) clustering associations which include sectors and value 
chains that seek to increase their competitiveness and innovation, within an organizational structu re 
aiming high sustainability potential throughout a 5 -year business plan.  
 
Minimum number of enterprises that are required for clustering initiatives to be able to apply for 
support is 20. Moreover, actor diversity, business plan success, maturity of the value chain, are the 
most basic requirements. Therefore, cluster initiatives that apply with a successful five year business 
plan and have well developed actor distribution through the plan are considered more prosperous 
than other applicants due to sophis tication of their value chains.  
 
Main support areas to be supported in the business plan of cluster enterprises within the scope of 
the program are as below:  
 
• Improving cluster coordination, awareness or effectiveness,  
• Improving factor conditions or markets,  
• Productivity,  
• Innovation.  
Question 4  
4.  Could Türkiye please provide a breakdown of how support is distributed across eligible 
sectors?  
Reply : 
Ministry of Industry and Technology supports many projects (up to 70% grant) carried out 
simultaneously within the scope of the Cluster Support Program and 5 -year business plans aimed at 
improving value chains with a specific vision of cluster initiatives. These business plans, created by 
economic actors in an inclusive way, focus on the succe ssful realization of activities in cooperation.  
 
The aim of the Clustering Support Program is to increase the competitiveness and efficiency of the 
Turkish industry, to accelerate its transformation into an efficient and high -tech industrial structure 
having a qualified workforce, sensitive to the environment and society.   
 
There is no specific sector or firm type/size distinction but the cluster initiatives are expected to 
operate primarily in the manufacturing sector and their activities must be of national importance . 
Industrial R&D Projects Grant Program  
Question 5  
5.  Could Türkiye please provide further information on the eligibility criteria for the 
scheme, including which sectors, activities and types of firms can apply for support?  
Reply : 
The aim of the program is to support research -technology development and innovation activities of 
private sector organizations in Türkiye and to foster entrepreneurship and university -industry 
cooperation. Only SMEs can apply to the program.  
 
1501 TUBITAK Industri al R&D Projects Grant Program will be carried out with budget -based calls to 
be opened twice a year, starting from January 2020.  
 
Within the scope of 1501 TUBITAK Industrial R&D Projects Grant Program, within the framework of 
innovation definition; R&D projects are supported to produce a new product, to develop and improve 
an existing product, to raise the product quality or standard, or to develop new techniques and new 
technologies that reduce costs. The support rate for each period of the project is 75% with a fixed 
rate. The maximum grant duration is 36 months. In case of force majeure, the grant duration could 
exceed 36 months with the authority of Executive Board.  G/SCM/Q2/TUR/50  
 
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  There is no limit for SMEs in terms of the total project budget and nu mber of submissions.  
 
Supported costs are: personnel costs, travel costs, tools, equipment, software and technical 
documents costs, R&D service expenses, consultancy or other services costs, materials and 
consumables costs.  
Question 6  
6.  Could Türkiye please provide a breakdown of how support is distributed across eligible 
sectors?  
Reply : 
According to last ten years statistics, the 6 sectors that received the most grants are as follows:  
 
1. Information and communication technologies  
2. Health  
3. Automotive  
4. Machinery and manufacturing technologies  
5. Defence  
6. Food, agriculture and livestock  
International Industrial R&D Projects Grant Program  
Question 7  
7.  Could Türkiye please provide further information on the eligibility criteria for the 
scheme, including wh ich sectors, activities and types of firms can apply for support?  
Reply : 
All capital companies established in Türkiye that conduct R&D activities, regardless of sector and 
size, can apply for the program.  
 
Question 8  
8.  Could Türkiye please provide a breakdown of how support is distributed across eligible 
sectors?  
 
Reply : 
According to past statistics, the 6 sectors that received the most applications are as follows:  
 
1. Information and communication technologies  
2. Energy Sector  
3. Health  
4. Automotive  
5. Food, agric ulture and livestock  
6. Textiles and Leather  
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