TURQUALITY® and Branding
E-TURQUALITY® Requirements: The 4 Criteria in Full
Written by Başak Yüksel, Project and TURQUALITY® Specialist
Reviewed by Ahmet Ersoy, Co-Founder
Contents6 sections
E-TURQUALITY® is open to companies in the IT or digital intermediation sector that hold a trademark registered in Türkiye, and the Ministry decides who is admitted. Four criteria decide how strong your file is: full ownership of the intellectual property in your software or IT product, documented overseas sales potential, corporate governance at a defined level of maturity and a financially sound strategic business plan for the next 5 years. Also known as “Bilişimin Yıldızları” (Stars of IT), the programme is separate from traditional TURQUALITY® and built around how fast the IT sector grows.
Why it matters for tech companies in Türkiye
Across Türkiye’s software and fintech ecosystem, from financial centres and technoparks to technology clusters, the pressure to go global rises every year. Competitors are moving fast in Eastern European and Gulf markets, and without government-backed corporate branding it is getting harder to pull ahead.
The Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade runs the programme under the “Bilişimin Yıldızları” umbrella. Its aim is to raise not just a company’s export revenue but its global brand value, for the long term. The end goal is technology companies from Türkiye valued at a billion dollars or more.
What is the E-TURQUALITY® (Bilişimin Yıldızları) programme?
The programme helps high value-added IT products from Türkiye become recognised brands in world markets. It covers companies building software, artificial intelligence, cyber security, fintech, blockchain, digital games, e-sports and smart city solutions. By pairing financial support with corporate transformation, it aims to move the applicant up a league.
Which sectors are eligible?
- Software and mobile app development
- AI and machine learning solutions
- Financial technology (fintech) and payment systems
- Cyber security products
- Digital games and e-sports platforms
- Blockchain and distributed ledger technology
- Smart city and embedded systems
E-TURQUALITY® requirements: the 4 criteria in detail
Admission depends on a rigorous preliminary review and audit. Assessors look at where the company stands today and at how far it can grow.
1. Intellectual and industrial property rights
This is the most decisive criterion. The source code of the software you sell, its trademark registrations (in Türkiye and in target markets) and every licence must belong to the applicant. Products built on third-party source code, or with disputed ownership, will not pass the assessment.
2. Export potential and track record
You need concrete documents showing that you can sell your product or service abroad. An export track record from previous years is a strong signal, but the programme is also open to early-stage companies with enough potential. In that case the documentation has to be more thorough and rigorous.
3. Corporate governance infrastructure
Ministry assessors look for a company run as an institution, not around its founder. HR procedures, financial reporting standards, the sales and marketing strategy and IT infrastructure must be documented and working in practice. Procedures that exist only on paper are exposed in the audit.
4. Strategic business plan (5 years)
Present a consistent, financially sound plan for the next five years: which markets you will enter, how you will grow market share and how you will position the brand. The most common reason assessors reject a file is a plan that contradicts itself or does not match market realities.
Supported costs and rates
Companies that meet the criteria can use the support items below. Rates and upper limits are set by Ministry of Trade communiqués; for current figures, see the Ministry of Trade’s official website.
| Support item | Support rate | Scope / duration |
|---|---|---|
| Software / mobile app development | 50% | Annual limit, 5 years |
| Market entry certification and licensing | 50% | Per project |
| Advertising, promotion and marketing | 50% | For the length of the programme |
| Overseas office / store rent | 50% | Limit per unit |
| Overseas Trademark Registration | 50% | Annual limit |
| Management and IT consulting | 50% | Annual limit |
| Hiring qualified staff (engineers, designers) | 50% | Limit per person and per year |
How does the application process work?
The process starts with a preliminary review by management consultancies that the Ministry of Trade has authorised. They score how well the company meets the criteria and write a report. If the report is positive, the formal application file goes to the Ministry.
The application runs through these key steps:
- Preliminary review and eligibility analysis: the authorised consultancy assesses where the company stands on the 4 criteria and produces a gap report.
- File preparation and Mock Audit: the whole file, from HR processes and financial statements to IP documents and the strategic business plan, is revised against the Ministry’s criteria, and a Mock Audit is held before the real one.
- Formal application and Ministry assessment: the complete file goes to the Ministry of Trade, and the assessment panel audits the company on site.
- Admission and support management: once admitted, spending is tracked within the support scope, with an annual reporting and audit cycle.
E-TURQUALITY® is not a simple grant application but a step up a league that changes company culture and corporate maturity. However strong your software, this hurdle is hard to clear without institutional memory and a strategic plan.
To check how ready your company is and run the application properly, see our Corporate and TURQUALITY® Consulting service.
Frequently asked questions
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Which sectors can apply for E-TURQUALITY®?IT companies building software, artificial intelligence, cyber security, fintech, blockchain…
IT companies building software, artificial intelligence, cyber security, fintech, blockchain, digital games, e-sports and smart city solutions can apply. The product or service must be high value-added and have export potential.
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How do E-TURQUALITY® requirements differ from traditional TURQUALITY®?Traditional TURQUALITY® is about branding physical products, while E-TURQUALITY® uses criteria…
Traditional TURQUALITY® is about branding physical products, while E-TURQUALITY® uses criteria built for the IT sector. Source code ownership, export capacity through a SaaS or licence model and a technology-led strategic business plan are what set it apart.
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Can early-stage (pre-revenue) software companies apply?Yes. A past export record is not mandatory, but the company must then support its overseas sales…
Yes. A past export record is not mandatory, but the company must then support its overseas sales potential with much fuller evidence, such as market research, letters of intent (LOIs) and pilot contracts. When the documentation is handled well, early-stage companies can be admitted too.
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Do you need an authorised consultancy to apply?Yes. The Ministry of Trade runs the assessment through authorised management consultancies.
Yes. The Ministry of Trade runs the assessment through authorised management consultancies. Without a preliminary review report, the file cannot go forward as a formal application, so choosing the right consultant is the most important first step.
Based in Ankara, FIX runs every stage of the E-TURQUALITY® application end to end: the preliminary review, Mock Audit, strategic business plan and the Ministry file. Contact us and we will prepare your application in full, to the standard the institution expects.