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What Is KOSGEB? The 6 Support Programmes It Offers Businesses
Written by Başak Yüksel, Project and TURQUALITY® Specialist
Reviewed by Ahmet Ersoy, Co-Founder
- Related service KOSGEB Consulting
Contents7 sections
What is KOSGEB, and which businesses does it serve?
What is KOSGEB? It is the acronym of Küçük ve Orta Ölçekli İşletmeleri Geliştirme ve Destekleme İdaresi Başkanlığı, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization of Türkiye. Set up in 1990, this government agency helps SMEs with fewer than 250 employees grow, develop technology and start exporting. Its tools are direct grants, non-repayable support and interest-free or low-interest loan programmes. It reports to the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Industry and Technology and serves SMEs, which make up more than 90% of all businesses in Türkiye.
KOSGEB’s mission and how it is organised
KOSGEB does far more than hand out grants. Through business development centres (İŞGEM), technology development centres (TEKMER) and incubators, it also gives entrepreneurs premises, training and mentoring. It runs more than a hundred service centres across Türkiye, so SMEs get help with market development and export capacity, not just finance.
Before applying to KOSGEB, you must register on the SME Information System (KOBİBİS). Once registered, the business can apply online to any programme it qualifies for.
KOSGEB’s 6 main support programmes
The SME Development, KOBİGEL and R&D, Product Development and Innovation programmes closed to new applications on 15 April 2024, and TEKNOYATIRIM (KOBİ TÜP) on 30 June 2025. These are the six main programmes open today:
- Entrepreneur Support Programme: non-repayable Business Establishment Support for businesses up to 1 year old. Manufacturing and IT businesses up to 3 years old also get repayable Business Development Support at 80%, up to TRY 1,500,000.
- Capacity Building Support Programme: non-repayable support of up to 20 points on the interest of loans of TRY 1–20 million; for defence, aviation and space suppliers, the loan ceiling is TRY 30 million.
- Global Competitiveness Support Programme: non-repayable support of up to 20 points on the interest of loans of TRY 30–75 million.
- SME Digital Transformation Support Programme: non-repayable support of up to 20 points on the interest of loans of TRY 1–20 million for digital transformation investments by small and medium-sized manufacturers.
- Green Industry Support Programme: repayable support at 60%, up to TRY 14 million, for solar energy investment, and at 70%, up to TRY 4 million, for clean and circular production.
- Strategic Product Support Programme: Repayable support at 80%, up to TRY 10 million, towards staff costs for medium-high and high-technology strategic products.
Which KOSGEB programme fits your business?
| Programme | Target group | Support type | Maximum support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entrepreneur | Businesses up to 3 years old | Business Establishment: non-repayable; Business Development: 80%, repayable | TRY 1,500,000 (Business Development) |
| Capacity Building | SMEs | Up to 20 points of loan interest, non-repayable | TRY 20,000,000 loan (TRY 30,000,000 for defence suppliers) |
| Global Competitiveness | SMEs | Up to 20 points of loan interest, non-repayable | TRY 75,000,000 loan (lower limit TRY 30,000,000) |
| SME Digital Transformation | Small and medium-sized manufacturers | Up to 20 points of loan interest, non-repayable | TRY 20,000,000 loan |
| Green Industry | SMEs | 60–70% repayable support | TRY 14,000,000 (solar energy) |
| Strategic Product | Manufacturers in critical sectors | 80% of staff costs, repayable | TRY 10,000,000 |
Note: maximum support amounts can change under each programme’s implementing rules. Check the current limits on the official KOSGEB website before you apply.
Common mistakes in KOSGEB applications
Many SMEs that qualify for a programme are still turned down because of technical mistakes. The most common ones:
- Errors in the KOBİBİS record: A wrong activity code, headcount or financial figure can get the application filtered out automatically.
- A budget that breaks the rules: Applications that include costs KOSGEB cannot fund (vehicle purchases in some programmes, for example) are rejected outright.
- A thin justification report: Project descriptions that miss the scoring criteria or lack technical depth are eliminated at evaluation.
- Invoice mismatches in the payment request: If documents for purchases made after approval do not follow KOSGEB’s format, the grant is not paid.
How do you apply for an SGK incentive?
A KOSGEB application usually runs through these stages:
- Register on KOBİBİS and update your business profile
- Choose the right programme and shape the project idea
- Prepare the project file (business plan, budget, technical report)
- Submit the application through the online system
- Attend the evaluation committee interview or on-site visit
- Sign the contract and start the project
- Submit payment requests at set intervals and receive staged payments
The most critical part comes after approval: managing the file. If purchasing does not follow KOSGEB rules, all or part of the approved grant may go unpaid.
Our KOSGEB Consulting service manages every stage for you, from the application file to the payment requests.
Frequently asked questions
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Who can apply for KOSGEB support?Any business can apply if it has fewer than 250 employees, annual net sales or a balance sheet…
Any business can apply if it has fewer than 250 employees, annual net sales or a balance sheet total below the set threshold, and a KOBİBİS registration. Support is open to companies registered in Türkiye. Foreign investors can apply once they have set up a company in Türkiye. Some programmes add sector-specific conditions.
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Does KOSGEB support have to be repaid?It depends on the programme.
It depends on the programme. Business Establishment Support and the interest points paid on loans are non-repayable. Business Development Support, Strategic Product staff support and Green Industry support must be repaid.
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How long does a KOSGEB application take?Preparing the file takes 2 to 6 weeks, depending on where the business starts from.
Preparing the file takes 2 to 6 weeks, depending on where the business starts from. Evaluation can then take 4 to 12 weeks, depending on the programme and the number of applications.
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What happens after the project is approved?Once the contract is signed, every purchase must follow KOSGEB’s implementing rules and be documented.
Once the contract is signed, every purchase must follow KOSGEB’s implementing rules and be documented. You then submit payment requests at set intervals; if the documents are complete, the grant goes straight to your bank account.
At FIX, based in Ankara, we run this process from start to finish, from choosing the right KOSGEB programme to completing the payment requests. Get in touch if you would rather not leave your application to chance.