The inventor will win! Payments up to 140 times the minimum wage.

Innovators Will Win: Up to 140 Times the Minimum Wage! A Groundbreaking Regulation in the Domestic Technology Initiative.

The Golden Age for Those with Ideas is Beginning.

Turkey has taken a historic step to encourage domestic production in energy and mining technologies. A new regulation published in the Official Gazette on March 13, 2026, has paved the way for researchers working within or supporting projects at the Turkish Energy, Nuclear and Mining Research Institute (TENMAK) to achieve unprecedented financial gains.

This regulation, based on the motto "Those who invent will win," ensures that scientists and engineers receive up to 50% of the net income generated from an invention they develop. Furthermore, the ceiling for this payment is so high that it can reach up to 140 times the minimum wage. So, what does this revolutionary regulation bring, who does it cover, and how will the payments be calculated? Here are the details...

Intellectual Property Rights are Protected

The new regulation mandates the official registration of all technical knowledge, designs, and inventions developed in strategically important energy and nuclear fields. This ensures that the intellectual property rights of projects developed with Türkiye's own resources are protected by the state. This serves as a shield protecting not only the present but also future technological achievements.

The Real News: 50% Share of Revenue

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the regulation is the revenue-sharing model, which will directly motivate researchers. Now, a researcher or team will be able to pocket half (exactly 50%) of the net income generated from the sale or licensing of a technology they developed and commercialized within TENMAK. These payments will be made regularly every year for 10 years, starting from the day the invention is commercialized. This system creates a long-term and sustainable income stream for scientists, far beyond the classic bonus systems that reward them only once.

140 Times the Minimum Wage: What Do the Payment Tiers Mean?

The most striking aspect of the news is the high ceilings imposed on these payments. The regulation sets an upper limit that varies depending on whether the invention was made by a single person or a team. Here is that tiered system:

• For one-person inventions: The inventor can receive payment up to 60 times the minimum wage.
• In team work:
  • For teams of 2, the limit is 90 floors.
  • 120 floors in teams of 3,
  • For teams of four or more people, the limit can go up to 140 times the minimum wage.

Moreover, it doesn't stop there. In larger projects with 5 to 20 people, in addition to the 4-person limit, the limit for each new person can be increased to 10 times the minimum wage. However, a balance has been maintained here as well; the payment to an individual within the team cannot exceed 55 times the minimum wage, regardless of the circumstances. This system aims to ensure that large teams receive large collective rewards while maintaining fairness in income distribution by setting a reasonable individual ceiling.

Domestic Technology Will Be Protected in the Global Arena

TENMAK's move is not limited to monetary gain. Inventions registered within the institution can be protected not only within Turkey but also worldwide. If an invention has strategic importance on a global scale, patent applications will be filed abroad. This means that technologies developed through the hard work of Turkish engineers and scientists will be protected by the state against copying or unauthorized use internationally.

Ethics and Privacy are Red Lines

In the new system, leaking project details before the registration process is complete will be strictly prohibited. Those who developed the invention or are aware of the process will be obligated to keep the information confidential until the official applications are finalized. Legal action will be taken against those who do not comply with the rules. This stands out as a critical measure in terms of national security and trade secrets.

Conclusion: A Step Towards Reversing the "Brain Drain"?

With this regulation, Turkey aims not only to accelerate domestic technology production but also to reward its skilled workforce, maximizing their motivation. Considered one of the most concrete steps taken to stop and even reverse the brain drain, this regulation lays the foundation for an ecosystem where innovators are not intimidated but rather rewarded.

A huge window of opportunity has opened, especially for researchers working in critical sectors such as nuclear, energy, and mining. Now there is a very strong financial basis for ideas to be brought to life, not just remain as articles or laboratory reports: those who innovate will truly profit!