TÜBİTAK was established by President
Cemal Gürsel, who initially formed a scientific council in 1960 to advise the
Ministry of Defense. This effort paralleled the creation of a separate scientific law council tasked with drafting the new constitution of the Turkish Republic. President Gürsel later expanded this initiative by founding the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey as a broader continuation of the Ministry of Defense's Scientific Council. The primary role of TÜBİTAK was to guide the government's plans and policies. Subsequently, the bill "278" passed on July 24, 1963, in the new era of
planned economy subsequent to the first five-year development plan of the country, set the official record for the Council's presence and duties.
Cahit Arf, who was appointed by Gursel as the founding director and whose leading foundation work was assisted by a group of scientists including
Erdal İnönü, was subsequently named as the first chairman of the Council on December 26, 1963. The Council's first ten members were professors
Erdal İnönü, Ratip Berker, Hikmet Binark, Mecit Çağatay, Reşat Garan,
Feza Gürsey, Orhan Işık,
Mustafa İnan, Atıf Şengün and İhsan Topaloğlu. They nominated Nimet Özdaş as the first secretary general of TÜBİTAK effective March 1, 1964. At that time of its establishment, TÜBİTAK's primary tasks at the time were supporting basic and applied academic research and encouraging careers in science by providing incentives to young researchers, in particular to those working in natural sciences. To carry out these tasks, four research grant committees were set up to fund projects in the areas of basic sciences, engineering, medicine, agriculture and animal husbandry. The number now stands at ten and also includes one assigned to social sciences and humanities, all functioning under the Research Support Programmes Department. A separate “Scientist Training Group”, also set up at the time to orient promising students towards scientific careers and help their advancement thereafter, has now evolved into the present Science Fellowships and Grant Programmes Division. ==Activities==