A manufacturing SME owner walks into a bank to apply for a loan for a digital transformation investment. Machinery, software, sensors — quotes already collected, everything ready to go. Then a document comes up that wasn’t on the checklist: a digital maturity report. “What is this, who issues it, how long does it take?” That question usually surfaces right when the process is already underway. But this report is one of the preconditions for KOSGEB’s interest-support scheme, and the application file needs to be built around it from the start.
What KOSGEB’s digital transformation support actually provides
KOSGEB’s SME Digital Transformation Support Programme is not a grant. It covers a portion of the interest or profit-share cost on an investment loan the business takes out from a bank. The loan itself comes from the bank and the principal is repaid by the business — KOSGEB’s contribution is to lower the financing cost. Eligible investments are new machinery, equipment, software and hardware approved by the programme’s evaluation board.
The programme targets the manufacturing sector (NACE code C) and runs on a continuous basis rather than waiting for periodic calls — which sets it apart from tools like Model Factories or the Green Transition Support Programme that do operate on call cycles. Current ceilings, rates and conditions are revised periodically, so confirming the latest figures on kosgeb.gov.tr before applying is essential.
What a digital maturity report actually is
The programme doesn’t accept a plain statement of intent to invest. It asks for an independent assessment showing where the business currently stands and which investment should be prioritised. The output of that assessment is the digital maturity report, and it’s listed among the mandatory attachments to the application file.
More than one authorised centre issues this report:
- TÜBİTAK TÜSSİDE — the DDX digital maturity assessment
- MESS MEXT (Digital Transformation Programme)
- İHKİB Digital Transformation Centre — particularly relevant for apparel and textile supply chains
All three score a business’s processes, data infrastructure and automation level against a defined framework. The output can be used both in the KOSGEB application and as the company’s own roadmap. Which centre fits best depends on sector and geographic reach, and the scope should be confirmed directly with the relevant institution before applying.
How the loan mechanism actually works
The table below summarises the questions that come up most often. Figures shift over time and should be read as approximate — the current, exact numbers should be confirmed on KOSGEB’s official page.
| Question | General framework |
|---|---|
| Type of support | Not a grant — interest / profit-share support on a loan |
| Covered investment | Board-approved machinery, equipment, software, hardware |
| Loan amount range | Roughly a 1-20 million TL band (revised periodically) |
| Term | Instalment-based, multi-year repayment |
| Sector requirement | NACE C — Manufacturing |
| Precondition | An approved digital maturity report |
| Application channel | KOSGEB SME Information System (KBS), via e-Devlet |
In practice the sequence runs like this: the business first obtains the maturity report from an authorised centre, then uploads the application form and attachments through KBS, KOSGEB’s board evaluates the investment items, approved items are financed through a bank loan, and the interest support kicks in from there. The order matters — a file submitted without the report is generally treated as incomplete.
Who can apply, and who should wait
- The business must operate in manufacturing (NACE C) according to its registered code.
- It must be registered and active in KOSGEB’s database, with an up-to-date, approved Business Declaration.
- A baseline level of financial standing is typically required — items like recent operating losses or the state of shareholders’ equity factor into the evaluation.
- Trade, service or agriculture-oriented businesses fall outside this specific programme’s scope; they should look at KOSGEB’s other support programmes instead.
The requirement list looks short, but each item needs to be separately documented at application time. That’s why many businesses work with a consultant or accountant to get the file complete on the first attempt. A missing or inconsistent document can send the file back a step before it ever reaches the board — and that alone can stretch the timeline by months.
Businesses that have already gone through a Model Factory experience tend to move through the maturity assessment faster, since they’ve already had an outside view of their own process once. For businesses with no such experience, the maturity assessment is often the first time the question “where does our data actually live, which process is still on paper” gets a clear answer.
Preparing for the maturity report: start with measurement
The digital maturity assessment is, at its core, a look at the business’s data: which process still runs on paper, which machines actually talk to each other, which data sits scattered across spreadsheets. Clarifying that picture before the assessment speeds up the evaluation and also clarifies which investment should come first.
A rough three-step preparation helps:
- Measure — Pull together the current state from the shop floor, meters, the ERP system, or manual spreadsheets. What data exists, and what’s never been captured at all?
- Classify — Map the current state against the headings the maturity assessment actually looks at: process automation, data integrity, system integration.
- Prioritise — Decide which investment — software, hardware, or both — should be put forward first in the loan application.
Skipping this preparation and going straight to a maturity centre is possible, but the process usually takes longer, and the resulting report may not fully reflect the business’s real priorities.
Consultant-led or in-house
Some businesses run the whole process with their own team — this makes sense particularly where the IT function is strong and the ERP backbone is already in place. But for most SMEs, the maturity report, the loan application and the implementation project that follows (software rollout, process automation, integration) each demand a different kind of expertise. What an outside consultant adds here isn’t mainly paperwork speed — it’s tying the measure-transform-comply chain into a single plan from day one.
İkiz Eksen works across that whole chain: measuring field data, turning it into value on the digital transition side through ERP, process automation and system integration, and — where needed — running the implementation project end to end through our transform service. Built on the Qera track record — over 550 customers, more than 15 sectors and over 100 ERP implementations — this gives the step after the maturity assessment a concrete reference point. The work runs on Microsoft Azure infrastructure, delivered turnkey across Türkiye.
We can work through which maturity centre fits your business and what data should be ready before the loan application together. Take a look at our solution focus or get in touch directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply to KOSGEB without a digital maturity report?
The programme lists the maturity report as one of the mandatory preconditions. Without it, the application file is generally treated as incomplete — confirm the current requirement on KOSGEB’s official page.
Which centre should I go to for the report — TÜSSİDE, MEXT, or İHKİB?
All three issue a digital maturity assessment. Which one fits best depends on your sector and region — it’s worth comparing each centre’s current scope and processing time before deciding.
Does the support actually pay out cash, or does it just cover interest?
It’s not a cash grant. It covers a portion of the interest or profit-share cost on an investment loan taken from a bank. The loan principal is still repaid by the business.
Can a non-manufacturing business (say, a service company) use this programme?
This particular programme is built specifically around NACE C — Manufacturing. Non-manufacturing businesses should look at KOSGEB’s other support programmes instead.
Can I rely on these figures and conditions?
This article is for informational purposes. Amounts, rates and application requirements are revised periodically — always confirm the current details on kosgeb.gov.tr or with an authorised KOSGEB consultant before applying. The same applies to the interest rate and maximum term referenced in the programme’s directive — the terms your bank and KOSGEB confirm at contract stage take precedence.