The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) is the leading agency for management, funding and conduct of research in Turkey. It was established in 1963 with a mission to advance science and technology, conduct research and support Turkish researchers. TUBITAK is responsible for promoting, developing, organizing, conducting and coordinating research and development in line with national targets and priorities.

Setting its vision as to be an innovative, guiding, participating and cooperating institution in the fields of science and technology, which serves for improvement of the life standards of our society and sustainable development of our country, TUBITAK not only supports innovation, academic and industrial R&D studies but also develops scientific and technological policies in line with national priorities, manages R&D institutes, carries on research, technology and development studies. Furthermore, TUBITAK funds research projects carried out in universities and other public and private organizations, develops support programs for public and private sectors and supports undergraduate and graduate students through scholarships. TUBITAK is the contact organization for the EU Framework Programmes since 2003. TUBITAK gives support to science center projects, science and society projects; organizes science and society activities; publishes scientific journals, popular science magazines and popular science books.

Based on the anticipation that science centers would assume a critical role in Turkey in terms of making scientific culture more widespread, TÜBİTAK aims to increase state-of-the-art science centers in Turkey and supports local authorities’ (municipalities, guvernorships, universities) science center projects.