Following the decision of the Hacettepe University Board of Directors, an application was submitted to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and with the Council of Ministers’ Decision No. 2002/4695 dated December 11, 2002, published in the Official Gazette No. 24989 on January 10, 2003, the Hacettepe University Technology Development Zone was officially declared.
The company establishment procedures commenced immediately thereafter, and Hacettepe University Technology Development Zone Management Inc. was officially registered in the Trade Registry on March 17, 2003, and announced in the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette No. 5760 on March 20, 2003.
In accordance with Law No. 4691 on Technology Development Zones, Hacettepe University Technology Development Zone Management Inc. was founded to manage and operate the declared technology development zone and promptly began its activities.
According to the Presidential Decision No. 7478 dated August 3, 2023, published in the Official Gazette No. 32269 on August 4, 2023, boundary changes were made to Area No. 1 of the Hacettepe University Technology Development Zone, as indicated in the annexed boundary map and coordinates list. Following this decision, the total size of Area No. 1 amounts to 575,633.05 m².
Additionally, pursuant to the Presidential Decision No. 6991 dated March 23, 2023, published in the Official Gazette No. 32142 on March 24, 2023, an additional area of 50,440.00 m²—shown with its boundaries and coordinates—was designated as the Hacettepe University Technology Development Zone Extension Area (Area No. 2).
Located within the Beytepe Campus of Hacettepe University in the Çankaya district of Ankara, the Technology Development Zone now covers a total area of 626,073.05 m² following the inclusion of the extension area.
Hacettepe University Technology Development Zone is home to entrepreneurial companies carrying out projects in various sectors, including software, computer and communication technologies, banking and finance, electronics, energy, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, engineering, machinery and equipment manufacturing, aviation, food, agriculture, and industrial production.
To become a modern center of attraction and ultimately a strong technology hub for entrepreneurs and all stakeholders in the ecosystem engaged in advanced technology and innovative R&D activities at both national and international levels.
To be a technology and innovation center that fosters the emergence of national entrepreneurs, companies, and global brands producing high value-added, R&D-based advanced technology products and services. To create an ecosystem where universities and industry collaborate, exchange knowledge and technology, and access high-quality infrastructure, superstructure, and related services.
The objective of Hacettepe Technology Development Zone is to generate technological knowledge, develop innovations in products and production processes, enhance product quality or standards, increase efficiency, reduce production costs, commercialize technological knowledge, and support technology-intensive production and entrepreneurship. It aims to facilitate the adaptation of small and medium-sized enterprises to new and advanced technologies, create investment opportunities in technology-intensive fields in line with the decisions of the Supreme Council for Science and Technology, provide employment opportunities for researchers and qualified professionals, assist in technology transfer, and establish the technological infrastructure that will accelerate the inflow of foreign capital capable of delivering high/advanced technologies.
Incentives Provided Under Law No. 4691 on Technology Development Zones
Corporate Tax Exemption
According to Provisional Article 2 of the Technology Development Zones Law:
“The profits earned by the managing companies under the scope of this Law, as well as the profits derived exclusively from software, design, and R&D activities conducted within the Zone by income and corporate taxpayers operating in the Zone, shall be exempt from income and corporate tax until 31.12.2028.”
VAT Exemption
As stated in Provisional Article 20 of the Value Added Tax Law:
“During the period in which the profits of entrepreneurs operating in technology development zones established under Law No. 4691 are exempt from income or corporate tax, deliveries and services consisting exclusively of software produced in these zones—such as system management, data management, business applications, sectoral, internet, gaming, mobile, and military command software—shall be exempt from VAT.”
Additionally, under Article 13(m) of the same law, deliveries of new machinery and equipment made exclusively for use in the activities of entrepreneurs operating in technology development zones under Law No. 4691 are exempt from VAT. This means that entrepreneurs will not pay VAT on the purchase of new machinery and equipment within the scope of their projects.
Income Tax Withholding Incentive
If R&D and design personnel are required to work outside the Zone for activities directly related to projects conducted in the Zone, 100% of their wages for these activities will be exempt from income tax.
For this provision to apply, the following conditions must be met:
- A portion of the R&D or design project must necessarily be carried out outside the technology development zone.
- A justified proposal including the necessity, number, qualifications, duration, and wages of employees per project must be submitted to the managing company.
Under Law No. 5746, wages of R&D and support personnel (excluding public employees) in R&D centers are exempt from income tax at the following rates:
o 95% for those with a doctorate or a master’s degree in basic sciences
o 90% for those with a master’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in basic sciences
o 80% for others
For this exemption to apply, the justified proposal must be approved by the managing company after verifying that the project cannot be carried out entirely within the Zone. Additionally, a document from the institution where the software and/or R&D work is performed outside the Zone must be submitted to the managing company.
Wages for time spent outside the Zone by R&D and design personnel who have worked in Zone enterprises for at least 1 year may be exempted from income tax withholding for up to 1.5 years for master’s students and up to 2 years for doctoral students, provided that the total does not exceed 100% of their wages. The time spent on postgraduate education will be calculated based on an approved course program from the university and with the managing company’s approval.
The number of support personnel benefiting from the exemption cannot exceed 10% of the number of R&D personnel (20% for Zone companies with 15 or fewer total staff).
The income tax calculated on the wages of R&D, design, and support personnel working in the Zone—provided they complete 45 weekly hours related to their duties—shall be deducted in full from the accrued tax in the withholding tax return. Overtime and extra working hours are excluded from this incentive. Paid leave, national holidays, and official holidays are covered under the incentive.
Social Security Premium Support
Under Law No. 4691, half of the employer’s share of the social security premium calculated on the wages of personnel whose income is exempt from income tax is covered from the appropriation allocated in the Ministry of Finance budget.
Stamp Tax Exemption
Apart from wage-related exemptions for R&D, design, and support personnel, there is no general stamp tax exemption. However, managing companies are exempt from stamp tax and fees on documents and transactions related to the implementation of Law No. 4691.
Customs Duty Exemption
Goods imported for use in R&D, innovation, and design projects are exempt from customs duties and all funds, and related documents and transactions are exempt from stamp tax and fees. Entrepreneurs in the Zone wishing to benefit from this exemption must submit their requests to the managing company using the application form and annexes determined by the Directorate General. The managing company evaluates whether the imported goods are suitable for the project and, if approved, submits the application to the Ministry of Trade via the Single Window System. The Directorate General then assesses the application and notifies the Ministry of Trade.
Located within the Beytepe Campus, Hacettepe Technopolis spans a total open area of 626,073 m², consisting of Area No. 1 (575,633 m²) and Area No. 2 (50,440 m²), along with approximately 65,017 m² of leasable R&D investment space.
As of 2023, we are home to 342 R&D and support companies across various sectors, employing 5,404 specialized R&D and design professionals, hosting 839 new project applications, and supporting entrepreneurs through our pre-incubation center and our Technology Transfer Center, which has achieved numerous successful outcomes.
Celebrating our 20th anniversary, Hacettepe Technopolis is proud to be among Turkey’s most established technoparks and one of the first founded in the country. Over two decades, we have consistently supported valuable entrepreneurs to strengthen Turkey’s tech entrepreneurship ecosystem.
With a total of 12 R&D buildings, two of which are dedicated to companies operating in the defense and aviation sectors, we provide specialized, highly secure facilities equipped with tempest rooms, meeting NATO and National Confidentiality project requirements. Public institutions such as the Information and Communication Technologies Authority and the Public Procurement Authority are also located within our Zone.
As of 2024, Hacettepe Technopolis hosts 342 companies from diverse sectors. Software and computer communication technologies take the lead, followed by the defense industry, and in third place, healthcare, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals.
Founded in partnership with Hacettepe University, our mission is to contribute to science and technology, encourage domestic and national production, support R&D processes that will promote our country globally, and help commercialize the resulting products.
Guided by the vision of producing new industrial products and technologies that add value to universal science, technology, and humanity, Hacettepe Technopolis maximizes university–industry collaboration with the support of Hacettepe University. We foster the establishment and growth of high-tech companies, help them use their resources more efficiently, create new resources, and provide the necessary environment and support for innovative high-tech and software development companies to conduct their R&D activities.
Our location within Hacettepe University Beytepe Campus—and proximity to other leading universities in Ankara—offers easy access to a highly qualified workforce.
Through our Pre-Incubation and Incubation Centers, we provide entrepreneurs with open office spaces, training, mentorship, and investor networking opportunities.
Hacettepe Technopolis in Numbers
• Total number of companies: 342
• Total number of projects: 3,253
• Ongoing projects: 542
• Total number of employees: 5,222
- ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management System Certification
- ISO 14001:2015 – Environmental Management System Certification
- ISO 45001:2015 – Occupational Health and Safety Management System Certification