New Turkish energy regulation offers up to 1.5 million liras per patent

Turkey's Energy Market Regulatory Authority has revised the rules for supporting research, development and innovation by electricity and natural gas distribution companies. The authority's board decisions on the issue appeared in the Official Gazette.

The changes redefine which expenses companies can cover from their research and development budgets. Product-development spending can include pre-production prototypes, verification and validation tests, software performance and cybersecurity testing, pilot applications, certification, field demonstrations and localization efforts.

The eligible scope also covers software development, licensing, integration, digital-platform development, protection of intellectual-property rights, type tests, accreditation certificates and work to mature products before commercialization. Distribution companies will carry out these activities from board-approved research and development budgets after commission approval.

Under the revised rules, reasonable expenses linked to rejected applications may receive support under specified conditions. So may the establishment of research, design and incubation centers. The regulation also covers entrepreneurship activities, incubation centers, accelerator programs, idea competitions, training, outreach efforts, national and international fairs, events and technoparks. The report cites support of up to 1.5 million liras per patent.