Who may apply Technoscope?
Real persons, corporate bodies or enterpreneurs engaged in R&D or software development activities may apply. Technoscope looks for firms using advanced technology, bearing innovative vision, giving priority to R&D activities.

How do I apply Technoscope?
Firms/enterpreneurs willing to operate at Technoscope are required to hold a preliminary meeting with Mersin Technopark A.S., which is the company responsible for administration and management of Technoscope.Topics of meeting include firm’s previous and future R&D projects, corporate and employee information. After the meeting, application form is provided. Later on, evaluation period starts for the firm/enterpreneur those filled the forms correctly and attached the necessary documents.

Is there any fee for the application?
Applications are free of charge.

How do you evaluate applications?
A board of referees is constituted for each application whose members are selected from the specialized academicians about the application. During evaluation process, board of referees may ask for a face-to-face meeting with the applicant firm or suggest visiting the applicant’s facilities. The evaluation report prepared by the board is submitted to Technoscope Executive Council who will decide admitting the applicant.

Who are the members of Board of Referees?
Referees are selected firstly from Mersin University professors, and if required, from the professors of other universities. Great attention is paid for selecting the right referees having enough knowledge about the area of the project. Applicants are not informed about the board members till the face-to-face meeting.

What is the duration of evaluation process?
Evaluation process lasts 30 to 45 days approximately depending on the application.

What happens if an application is refused?
Firms whose applications are refused may reapply.However, their previous application results will be considered in the evaluation of their new applications.

Is it possible to book offices during evaluation process?
No. Firms have the right to choose offices among the available alternatives after the decision of Technoscope Executive Council.

How do firms choose their offices?
Alternative offices suitable to the projects are offered to the firms.  They move in one of the alternatives they choose.

What are the office properties? Is it possible to make modification in the office?
Tenants are offered offices equipped with telephone infrastructure, DSL internet, electricity and air conditioners. Offices at the Laboratory Building are also equipped with washstand. Tenants may make necessary modifications upon obtaining the required permissions from Mersin Technopark A.S.

What are the office sizes and charges?
Office areas in Technoscope Administrative Building range between 20-80 m2, while the Laboratory Building lab-offices range between 50-110 m2. Office lease price is 10 YTL/m2 per month. Electricity consumption of tenants is metered by individual meters located in offices and invoiced to the companies on monthly basis. Tenants are also required to pay operating costs per month depending on the office size. Operating costs are 5 YTL/ m2 covering common area cleaning, lighting, electricity and water expenses, landscape.

What is the period of lease?
Lease may be arranged from 1 year up to 15 years.

How is the tax exemption audited?
The General Directorate of Incomes of the Ministry of Finance and relevant Tax Offices are the authorized departments to audit tax statements of the tenants. Also, in accordance with Law No. 5035, the management company of a technology development zone (Mersin Technopark A.S.) is responsible to detect tenants who do not actually operate at the zone even though benefiting from the exemptions. This law also holds the management company of technology development zone responsible for the tax loss and the penalties that tenants are subject to.

Do I have to cooperate with Mersin University?
Firms are not obliged to cooperate with Mersin University or other universities. However, the aim of technology development zones is to strengthen university-industry ties in R&D activities should not be forgotten.

How do tenants benefit from university?
Mersin University has 11 faculties, 3 institutes, 9 colleges, 11 vocational high schools and 14 research centers with the academic manpower each specialized in their subjects. Firms willing to cooperate with the academicians may get academic support by having university’s permission. Firms shall firstly communicate with the relevant department and determine the academicians studying in firms’ research areas (Mersin Technopark A.S. may also assist this process). Later on they sign an agreement and fill some forms for the university board of directors. After getting permission from the board, firms launch research and development activities with full support of academicians.  Moreover, Mersin University is ready to cooperate with Technoscope tenants by providing laboratory facilities.  Mersin Technopark A.S. assists tenants in benefiting Mersin University’s laboratories.

Is it necessary to move company’s head office to Technoscope?
Not necessarily. Technoscope unit may be established as a branch office to carry on R&D activities. However, such a unit must have “workplace” qualifications as stipulated by Turkish Commercial Law.

What should firms do after being admitted to Technoscope?
To operate under Technology Development Zones Law No. 4691, firms are required to submit copies of social security institution workplace registration, zone working registration, roll call paper, tax office taxpaying registration, staff data (résumé, duties, employment dates, total terms of exemption granted by Law No. 4691 (if any) social security institution employment statement) to Mersin Technopark A.S. head office within 10 days after setting up their Technoscope units.

What are the obligations of tenants towards Mersin Technopark A.S.?
To submit the aforementioned documents and requested information within its due date, to inform about hiring and firing staff, title or duty changes, to fill Staff Information Form benefiting from the Law No. 4691, to have this form approved by Mersin Technopark A.S. and submit it to the relevant Tax Office attached to the Summary Statement on a monthly basis, to fill Firm Activity Monitoring Form on quarterly basis.