Directives

This is an annex to the Senate Decision of our University's Senate dated 11.12.2018 and numbered 2018/34.

ISTANBUL SABAHATTIN ZAIM UNIVERSITY

INCUBATION CENTER DIRECTIVE

PART ONE

Purpose, Scope, Basis and Definitions

Purpose

ARTICLE 1 – (1) The purpose of this directive is to regulate the principles and procedures relating to the use, management, and operation of the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Incubation Center areas.

Scope

ARTICLE 2 – (1) This directive covers provisions relating to the purpose, activities, governing bodies, duties of the governing bodies, and working principles and procedures of the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Incubation Center.

Legal Basis

ARTICLE 3 – (1) This Directive has been prepared on the basis of Article 14 of Higher Education Law No. 2547 and Article …. of the Regulation on Scientific Research Projects of Higher Education Institutions, published in the Official Gazette and entering into force on 26.11.2016.

Definitions

ARTICLE 4 – (1) As used in this directive;

1. Entrepreneur: Natural and legal persons who have established, or plan to establish, a company based on a business idea and to whom space has been allocated at the Incubation Centers,
2. Entrepreneurship Board: The board that evaluates applications made to the Incubation Centers (hereinafter referred to as the EB),
3. Economic Enterprise: The Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Economic Enterprise,
4. Incubation Firms: New enterprises and entrepreneurs that are directly supported, primarily by public institutions and organizations, for R&D, technological innovation, and software activities, or that are selected through a competition by public institutions and organizations or private sector enterprises and deemed suitable for support, or that possess a technological business idea,
5. Incubation Center: The Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Incubation Center,
6. Mentor: Natural and legal persons experienced in their field who provide guidance and consultancy to entrepreneurs,
7. Pre-Incubation Center: The Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Pre-Incubation Center,
8. Rector: Refers to the Rector of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
9. TTO: The Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Technology Transfer Office,
10. University: Refers to Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
11. Investor: Natural and legal persons who provide financial support to entrepreneurs' projects,

shall have the meanings set out above.

Entrepreneurship Board and Entrepreneur Approval Process

ARTICLE 5 – (1) The EB consists of the relevant Vice Rector, the TTO Coordinator, the TTO Director, and two TTO staff members assigned by the TTO Director.

1. The EB is the board that evaluates and decides on entrepreneurs' applications in line with the work packages under the business plan, as well as their progress/final reports and the stages reached.
2. The EB evaluates applications made for the allocation of Incubation Center space to persons with entrepreneurial ideas and submits its decision for the Rector's approval.
3. Persons or organizations whose entrepreneur status is approved by the Rector are referred to the University's Economic Enterprise, and space is allocated to them in return for a contract to be signed.

PART TWO

Incubation Center Activity Areas and Implementation Principles

Activity Areas

ARTICLE 6 – (1) In line with their purposes, the Incubation Centers carry out the following activities:

1. Organizing lectures, seminars, courses, training programs, or events on topics such as strategic plan design, innovation, project preparation and management, intellectual and industrial property rights, and business plan preparation for entrepreneurs in the stage referred to as the entrepreneurship start-up phase or incubation period; providing entrepreneurs and prospective entrepreneurs, to the extent of its resources, with services such as space, infrastructure, and support, whether free of charge or for a fee,
2. Supporting the development and commercialization of entrepreneurs' business plans,
3. Organizing activities to bring investors together with entrepreneurs within the Incubation Center,
4. Establishing a Mentor pool to enable entrepreneurs to develop their ideas and to provide guidance,
5. Carrying out any and all activities related to the purpose of the Incubation Center.

Facilities and Services Offered to Entrepreneurs

ARTICLE 7 – (1) The following facilities and services are provided to entrepreneurs based at the Incubation Centers:

1. Space is allocated, in return for the fee shown in the Service Fee Table in Annex-2 of this Directive, to entrepreneurs who qualify for the Pre-Incubation for a minimum of three months and a maximum of six months, and to entrepreneurs who qualify for the Incubation for a minimum of six months and a maximum of 12 months.
2. Upon the entrepreneur's request and with EB approval, this period may be extended by a maximum of six additional months in pre-incubation and 12 additional months in incubation.
3. The University may, to the extent of its resources, allow entrepreneurs free use of services such as meeting rooms and other shared spaces they need.
4. In addition, the TTO also provides the following services, to the extent of the University's resources:
5. Organizing competitions and similar entrepreneurship-promoting programs.
6. Organizing relevant training sessions and seminars.
7. Providing consultancy and mentorship services.
8. Providing consultancy services on access to financing for R&D and innovation activities, referring entrepreneurs to existing programs, and/or supporting them in coming together with suitable stakeholders.
9. Providing consultancy services on intellectual property rights.
10. Providing support in areas such as university-industry cooperation, academic matchmaking, management of intellectual property rights, incorporation, commercialization, and similar matters.

Performance Evaluation

ARTICLE 8 – (1) The progress of entrepreneurs based at the Incubation Centers is evaluated by the TTO, and where there are deviations from the business idea process, the necessary interventions are made to ensure the process is carried out in a controlled manner.

1. Entrepreneurs in pre-incubation submit their activity reports to the EB every three months.
2. The EB evaluates the stages reached in the project and issues a positive or negative opinion regarding the continuation or termination of the activity.
3. As a result of the evaluation, the contract of entrepreneurs whose activity reports are found to be inadequate is unilaterally terminated by the EB.

Vacating the Incubation Center

ARTICLE 9 – (1) The entrepreneur submits their final activity report to the EB, in the format set out in Annex-1, at least 15 days before the vacating date.

(2) If the period specified in the contract is not extended, the entrepreneur is obliged to immediately vacate the space allocated to them at the incubation center and to hand it over to the TTO official in the condition in which it was received.

PART THREE

Miscellaneous and Final Provisions

Service Fees

ARTICLE 10 – (1) The service fees for the Pre-Incubation and Incubation Centers are determined upon the EB's proposal and the University Board of Directors' approval. The incubation center service fee is collected monthly and in advance after the contract is signed.

(2) The determined service fees are for a single entrepreneur. If the entrepreneur will operate with more than one person, a separate service fee is charged for each person. VAT is not included in the service fees.

(3) The service fees to be applied are determined and announced each year in accordance with the provisions of the first paragraph of this article.

Cases Not Covered by These Principles

ARTICLE 11 – (1) In matters not provided for in this directive, the provisions of Higher Education Law No. 2547, the Regulation on Foundation Higher Education Institutions, the Regulation on Scientific Research Projects of Higher Education Institutions, the University's Main Regulation, the Procurement and Tender Legislation to which the University is subject, and other relevant legislative provisions, as well as decisions to be taken by the University Board of Directors, apply.

Entry into force

ARTICLE 12 -(1) This directive enters into force following a decision of the University Senate and approval of the Board of Trustees.

Execution

ARTICLE 13 -(1) The provisions of this directive are executed by the Rector of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University.
ANNEXES:

Annex-1 Activity Report Form

Annex-2 Service Fee Table

Annex-2: 2025 Service Fee Table: