The objectives of the call are: To encourage international collaboration between research entities, universities, and research institutes (inclusion of private sector entities from Türkiye and Moldova is considered an asset); To facilitate the access to new research environments, facilities, knowledge and expertise and to raise young scientists; To enhance the quality of research and enable the translation of research and innovation results into economic and societal benefits, considering sustainable development. Call Topics include Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomaterials, Polymers, Metals and Alloys, Nanomaterials, Water and Wastewater Treatment Technologies, Environmental Sciences and Biodiversity, and Technology Driven Socio-Economic Impacts: Green Transition and Sustainability (Renewable energy, green hydrogen, circular economy impacts), Socially Impactful Technologies (Health technologies, smart cities, social innovation), Digitalization and Socio-Technological Effects (AI, IoT, and big data driving societal and economic transformation).

Joint research and development project proposals must contribute to the state of the art by producing new knowledge, making scientific interpretations, or solving technological problems. They should include objectives, justification, methodology, research team details, timelines, expected results, and dissemination strategies. Selected projects will be funded as non-repayable grants, with Turkish partners eligible for up to 3,000,000 TL and Moldovan partners for up to 1,000,000 MDL. The projects may last up to 24 months, with monitoring through periodic and final reports. Continuation of funding depends on evaluations, and a final report is required within two months after completion.

Supported expenses under this program include research-related costs in line with TÜBİTAK’s administrative and financial principles. Consultancy and service procurement from international partners is not supported. Undergraduate and postgraduate students may participate as scholarship recipients, and retirees or postdoctoral researchers can serve in projects under specific conditions. Applications must include all required supporting documents such as ethics approvals, legal permits, SME declarations, trade registry records, and intellectual property rights protocols, depending on the project scope.

The project team may include a project manager, researcher, consultant, support staff, and fellow. All team members must be registered with the TÜBİTAK Researcher Information System (ARBİS) and keep their registration up-to-date. Project managers from universities must hold a doctorate, specialty, or art proficiency degree in fields such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, or veterinary medicine. Those from public institutions or private organizations must have at least four years of experience, while the minimum requirement is a university undergraduate degree. The host institution must have permanent, full-time staff, excluding retirees and postdoctoral researchers not affiliated with any organization.

Researchers and consultants must have at least a four-year undergraduate degree and full-time status at their institution. Private organization coordinators must have worked in the organization for at least six months before the application deadline. Project managers, researchers, and consultants (excluding foreign consultants) must reside within Türkiye. Contributions under 10% cannot qualify an individual as a researcher but may allow consultancy if specialized expertise is needed.

Students pursuing undergraduate or graduate education in Türkiye, as well as research assistants with student status and postdoctoral researchers, may participate as scholars. Undergraduate scholarship holders must not be employed elsewhere, and a maximum of four such students may take part in a project. Postdoctoral scholarship holders must have earned a doctorate, must not hold an associate professor title or higher, and should be within seven years of completing their doctorate or equivalent qualification. For female researchers, maternity leave extends the eligibility period by one year per child.

Except for Rectors and Vice Rectors, the highest-ranking executives, deputies, and assistants of public institutions and organizations, including positions such as Chief Physician, Deputy Chief Physician, Hospital Administrator, Minister, Deputy Minister, General Director, Deputy General Director, and Provincial Director of National Education, cannot serve as project managers if they continue in those roles at the time of application. However, they may participate as researchers.

Under the TÜBİTAK 1071 Support Program for Increasing the Capacity to Benefit from International Research Funds and Participation in International R&D Collaborations, applications from foundations, associations, cooperatives, unions, and sole proprietorships are not accepted.

Supported expenses under this program include research-related costs according to TÜBİTAK’s financial and administrative principles. Consultancy and service procurement from international project partners is not supported. Additional documentation such as ethics committee approval, legal permits, SME declarations, trade registry records, and intellectual property rights protocols may be required depending on the project.

Evaluation will be conducted jointly by TÜBİTAK and NARD, based on scientific and technological excellence, methodology, project management, the structure and contribution of international collaboration, and impact. Only projects approved by both sides will be funded. The evaluation period runs from November 2025 to February 2026, with results announced by March 2026. Funded projects are expected to begin in May 2026.

Applications must follow both TÜBİTAK and NARD regulations. The call is open from 12 August 2025 to 27 October 2025. Turkish applicants must submit proposals electronically via uidb-pbs.tubitak.gov.tr with e-signatures completed by 3 November 2025, while Moldovan applicants must email signed documents to NARD by the deadline. Proposals must be submitted in English on the Turkish side and in Romanian on the Moldovan side.

For more information, visit NARD.