Technopark company formation and setting up the 4691 incentives
Entering a technopark does not start with incorporating — it starts with your project passing the innovation review. We write the project file, present it to the referees with you, and after acceptance the same team handles the incorporation and the exemption reporting. Software, R&D and design income is exempt from income and corporate tax until 31.12.2028.
Technopark eligibility check
Answer five questions and see instantly how likely your project is to fall under Law 4691, which incentives you would use and which parts of the file need strengthening. No form to fill in, no contact details required.
Documents required in the application file
There are small differences between zones; the set below is common to almost every managing company.
Technopark incentives and tax exemptions
Law No. 4691 on Technology Development Zones supports both the income arising from software, design and R&D carried out in the zone and the salaries of the staff working on that activity. These items are not independent of each other: when the income exemption falls away so does the VAT exemption, while the personnel exemption depends on the payroll being kept inside the zone.
Income exemption
Income from software, design, and R&D activities in the zone is exempt from income and corporate tax pursuant to the temporary 2nd article of Law No. 4691.
Income tax withholding exemption
Salaries of R&D, design, and support staff working in the zone for these duties are exempt from income tax withholding within the limits set by regulations.
VAT exemption on software delivery
Delivery and services of systems management, data management, business applications, sectoral, internet, mobile, and military command and control software produced in the zone are exempt from VAT.
Stamp duty exemption
Documents related to exempt activities are exempt from stamp duty; employee payrolls are included in this scope.
Social security premium employer share support
Half of the social security premium employer share for personnel within the exemption scope is covered by the Treasury under Law No. 5746.
Basic science support
In companies employing at least bachelor's degree-level R&D staff in basic sciences, the portion of monthly salary paid to this staff equal to the gross minimum wage is covered by the Ministry budget.
Items the exemption does not cover
From application to operation: the process step by step
The process runs on two tracks: project acceptance on the technopark side and incorporation on the trade registry side. We plan them in parallel, so the incorporation paperwork is ready and waiting when the acceptance letter arrives.
Pre-assessment and region selection
Does the project fit the scope, which region's criteria apply, incubator or office — these three questions are answered free of charge and a written roadmap is provided.
Project file preparation
The innovative approach, technical risk, work packages, timeline, budget, and personnel plan are written in arbiter's language. This is the most labor-intensive step and the one that determines acceptance.
Application to the managing company
Files and attachments are uploaded through the region's portal, application fee is paid, and follow-ups on missing documents are tracked.
Arbitrator review and committee
An independent arbitrator's report is prepared, project presentation is given if needed, and the evaluation committee makes a decision. We prepare for the presentation together.
Acceptance and settlement agreement
After acceptance letter, a lease or incubation agreement is signed and office space and use commencement date are determined.
Company formation or address registration
MERSİS application, articles of association, NACE code and trade registry registration are completed; in existing companies, address and business activity are updated.
Exemption setup and reporting
Payroll exemption codes, zone-internal/external income separation, monthly exemption reports, and e-ledger setup are configured; first-period reports are submitted together.
Five mistakes that sink a file in the referee presentation
Technoparks in Türkiye and choosing a zone
According to Ministry of Industry and Technology figures, 113 technology development zones had been established as of December 2025, of which 95 are in operation. Choosing a zone is not only about location: the strictness of the acceptance criteria, the availability of incubation, the sector focus and the settlement cost all vary. The most frequently chosen zones are listed below.
Istanbul
18 zones · the widest choiceAnkara
14 zones · close to government and defenceKocaeli, Bursa and Marmara
Zones integrated with industryAegean and Mediterranean
A balance of quality of life and costCentral Anatolia, Black Sea and the East
Cost advantage and regional supportWhat we look at when choosing a zone
Protecting the exemption: compliance and reporting
The technopark exemption is not won once, it is sustained. Companies that fail to separate in-zone from off-zone income, that cannot document how personnel are allocated, or that skip the fund obligation can lose the exemption retrospectively. The headings below are the first things an inspection asks about.
Monthly compliance calendar
What is a technopark and who is it for?
A technopark — a technology development zone in the wording of the legislation — is a special-status area defined by Law No. 4691 where universities, research centres and technology companies sit side by side. Because the purpose is to turn academic knowledge into a commercial product, the privileges attach only to project-based activity: moving into a zone does not on its own create a tax advantage, an accepted R&D, software or design project is required.
Software and SaaS companies
For companies whose product is code, the income and VAT exemptions apply at the same time; this is where a technopark has the greatest effect.
Hardware and engineering R&D
Teams with prototyping, testing and validation processes gain access to laboratory and university infrastructure.
Academic and university ventures
Academics setting up a company to commercialise a project is specifically regulated in the legislation; incubation programmes are open to this group.
Teams selling to overseas markets
In software companies with export income, the exemptions are planned together with the service export advantages.
The difference between a technopark and an ordinary company
Which company type should you set up?
Technopark company formation · frequently asked questions
Free project pre-assessment
Tell us briefly about your project. We will send you in writing which zone suits it, which parts of the file need strengthening and an estimated schedule. The pre-assessment is free and commits you to nothing.