The Regulation on the Identification and Certification of Technology and Innovation-Oriented Enterprises (the “Regulation”) was published in the Official Gazette dated July 3, 2025, and numbered 32945, and entered into force on the same date.
The Regulation aims to set forth the procedures and principles regarding the identification of enterprises engaged in technology and innovation-based activities and possessing a scalable business model, as well as the issuance of the tech venture (“teknogirişim”) badge to such enterprises.
Pursuant to the Regulation on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (“SME”), enterprises classified as publicly controlled entities are excluded from the scope of the Regulation.
Within this framework, the key provisions of the Regulation are summarized below:
- New conditions have been introduced as of the effective date for enterprises wishing to apply for the tech venture
- The application criteria for the technology badge are as follows:
– The enterprise must qualify as an Small and Medium-sized Enterprise,
– It must be classified as an independent enterprise pursuant to the Regulation on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises,
– No more than fifteen years must have passed since its date of establishment,
– It must have a scalable business model based on technology and innovation.
- The application process and the submission of required documents are to be carried out via the designated portal. In cases where documents are incomplete, the Regulation provides a detailed explanation of the notification procedure, the time frame involved, and the steps the enterprise must follow for the continuation of the evaluation process.
- Specific criteria have been established to determine whether an enterprise that meets the application requirements fulfills the condition of having a technological and innovation-based, scalable business model, which is necessary for certification with the tech venture badge. To satisfy this condition, the enterprise must have met at least one of the defined criteria within the last three years prior to the application date, in relation to a technology and innovation-based project that involves research and development and/or innovation in products, processes, or services.
- The criteria for the evaluation to be conducted by the Committee and the Evaluating Institution Committee for the issuance of the tech venture badge have been regulated.
- It has been stipulated that entrepreneurs whose applications are rejected may reapply no earlier than six months from the date of the decision. It is stated that ventures may submit an objection to the negative decision rendered by the General Directorate within fifteen business days, only once.
- The validity period of the tech venture badge shall expire three years from the date of issuance, regardless of the date of incorporation of the venture. The renewal process has also been regulated.
- The General Directorate is authorized to audit whether badge holders comply with their obligations. Within this scope, additional information may be requested from ventures. If non-compliance with obligations is determined, the tech venture badge may be revoked.
Tech venture badges shall not be granted to ventures operating in the following areas:
➢ Activities that are contrary to law, public order, or public morality; and ventures engaged in tobacco, alcohol, casinos, gambling and betting activities, politically or ethnically motivated operations, and ventures exclusively engaged in real estate investment, including real estate investment trusts (REITs), are excluded from the scope of badge evaluation.
The regulation entered into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette on 3 July 2025.
You can access the full text of the regulation via the following link.
For detailed information and professional support during the compliance process, feel free to contact us.
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