Last year, 253 billion 544 million liras were spent on research and development (R&D) activities from the central government budget in Türkiye.
Turkish Statistical Institute published the bulletin “Appropriations and Expenditures Allocated from the Central Government Budget for Research and Development Activities-2026”.
Accordingly, 253 billion 544 million liras were spent on R&D from the central government budget in 2025.
The ratio of R&D expenditures in the central government budget was 1.58 percent. The rate of these expenditures in the gross domestic product of 63 trillion 20 billion 906 million liras was calculated as 0.4 percent.
According to the estimated results based on the initial budget appropriations, 308 billion 568 million liras were allocated to R&D from the central government budget this year.
THE MOST FUNDING WAS GIVEN TO UNIVERSITIES
When expenditures from the central government budget for R&D were classified according to socioeconomic targets, the highest expenditure in 2025 was made to universities for general knowledge development with 64.9 percent. This was followed by industrial production and technology with 11.5 percent, general knowledge development (financed from other sources) with 5 percent, and agriculture and education with 4.4 percent each.
According to the estimate made based on the initial budget appropriations, it was envisaged that the largest amount of funds this year would be allocated to universities for general knowledge development, with 69.5 percent. Industrial production and technology ranked second among socio-economic targets with 8.9 percent. This was followed by general knowledge development (funded from other sources) with 5.5 percent, agriculture with 4.7 percent and defense with 4 percent.
1.82 billion lira was allocated from the central government budget to international R&D programs in 2025. According to the subcategories of R&D programs, R&D programs carried out across Europe ranked first with 987 million lira. This was followed by funds for bilateral or multilateral public R&D programs with 435 million liras and public funds sent to organizations carrying out international R&D activities with 402 million liras.
According to the initial budget appropriation, 1.95 billion lira was allocated to international R&D programs in 2026. R&D programs carried out across Europe took the first place with 1 billion liras, followed by funds belonging to organizations carrying out international R&D activities with 489 million liras, and bilateral or multilateral international R&D programs with 460 million liras.
