The Researcher Training Program for the Defense Industry (SAYP) is an SSB-supported program initiated by METU. It aims to structure ongoing or planned graduate thesis studies conducted by students ("Researchers") enrolled in graduate programs at METU—whether they are employed at companies operating in the defense industry or not—as guided projects aligned with the medium- and long-term research and development strategies of the companies and in priority areas determined by the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB).

To this end, METU and the SSB have signed memoranda of understanding with ASELSAN, TUSAŞ (TAI), ROKETSAN, HAVELSAN, FNSS, MilSOFT, and NUROL. To date, within the program, which has been expanded by SSB to multiple defense industry companies and universities, a total of 35 projects have been carried out at our university.