KOSGEB, Türkiye’s SME development agency, opened the first 2026 application round of its Global Competitiveness Support Programme on September 7. Applications close September 30, 2026, and are submitted through the e-Devlet portal into the KOSGEB Information System (KBS). What sets this programme apart from other KOSGEB tools is scale: the credit ceiling reaches up to 75 million TL, and the target group is narrower — businesses growing exports, investing in R&D, or operating in high-technology sectors.
This article covers the programme’s scope, eligibility criteria, eligible expense items, and where software and digitalization investment fit.
What the programme covers
The Global Competitiveness Support Programme is a financing tool for SMEs and mid-sized businesses aiming to grow in international markets. It works like other KOSGEB credit-linked support: the business draws a loan from a partner bank, and KOSGEB covers a defined points-share of that loan as non-repayable financing, on top of a Credit Guarantee Fund (KGF) surety.
The programme’s focus is innovative product development, boosting production capacity and efficiency, strengthening supply chain management, and building lasting presence in global markets. Accordingly, the target group is narrower than KOSGEB’s broader-based programmes — it’s aimed at businesses that already meet KOSGEB’s “rapidly growing” definition or specific technology/export criteria, not a general-purpose grant.
Who can apply
The core eligibility requirements from the current announcement:
- Registered and active in the KOSGEB database
- Holding a current KOSGEB Business Declaration
- Operating as a limited or joint-stock company
- Meeting at least one of the following:
- A rapidly growing business increasing its exports
- An SME increasing its R&D investment
- A mid-sized business operating in a high-technology field
- A business active in a product on the Ministry of Industry and Technology’s HAMLE Programme priority products list
- A business within the Turcorn 100 Programme
This last group of criteria is what separates this programme from broader-based KOSGEB support such as Capacity Development: it targets businesses with proven growth trajectories or a position in priority technology areas. If it isn’t clear which criterion your business meets, confirm with your local KOSGEB provincial directorate before applying — exact thresholds (for example, the growth-rate bar for “rapidly growing”) are defined in the current application guide.
Credit limits and support terms
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Minimum credit | 30 million TL |
| Maximum credit | 75 million TL |
| Support rate | 20 points (non-repayable financing) |
| Additional guarantee | Credit Guarantee Fund (KGF) surety |
| Project/implementation period | Up to 24 months |
| Maximum credit term | Up to 36 months |
The mechanism: the business draws the loan from a partner bank (KOSGEB programmes of this kind have typically worked with institutions such as Ziraat Bankası, Halkbank, VakıfBank, and Ziraat Katılım — confirm which banks are partnered for this round when you apply), and KOSGEB covers 20 points of that loan as non-repayable financing. The remaining balance is repaid to the bank over a term of up to 36 months. The KGF surety helps growth-stage businesses with thinner collateral access credit they might otherwise struggle to secure.
What expenses are covered
The programme touches several parts of a growth investment, not a single line item:
- Machinery, equipment, and tooling
- Software
- Personnel costs tied to the project
- Service procurement: training, consulting, certification, marketing, design
- Working capital
The fact that software and service procurement are listed as separate items matters: it means the programme isn’t limited to production-line investment — it also covers ERP/digital infrastructure transitions and consulting support. For a business scaling export capacity, an ERP and digital infrastructure investment that gives visibility over production planning, inventory, and supply chain can be planned within the same application alongside machinery investment.
Don’t confuse it with other KOSGEB programmes
Throughout 2026, KOSGEB has run several support programmes in parallel, and their scopes don’t overlap. The Global Competitiveness Support Programme sits clearly above the Capacity Development Support Programme in credit ceiling and target profile — Capacity Development tops out at 20-30 million TL with a broader sector base, while this programme sets a higher bar, a narrower criteria set, and a sharper export/technology focus. If your business fits more than one programme, it’s worth clarifying which one better matches your investment before applying — using the same expense item across two simultaneous KOSGEB applications is generally not possible.
How the application process works
Applications go through the KOSGEB Information System (KBS) via e-Devlet login. The general flow:
- Confirm your KOSGEB database registration and Business Declaration are current.
- Identify which eligibility criterion applies to you (rapid growth/export increase, R&D, high-technology, HAMLE priority products list, Turcorn 100).
- Budget the project scope and expense items (machinery, software, personnel, service procurement, working capital).
- Complete the application through KBS; after evaluation, credit and KGF surety proceed through the partner bank.
- Once the project is approved, follow the 24-month implementation timeline.
If you miss this round, KOSGEB is likely to open further rounds later in the year — check kosgeb.gov.tr for the current calendar.
Where digitalization investment fits in
Competing in global markets often starts with data visibility before production capacity: consolidating orders, inventory, production planning, and supplier data into one system keeps export operations from spinning out of control as they scale. This programme’s software and service procurement items cover exactly that — an ERP rollout, digitalizing production data, or a consultant-supported digital maturity assessment.
İkiz Eksen runs the measure-software-compliance chain end to end across Türkiye, drawing on Qera’s track record of 550+ customers and 100+ ERP projects, built on Microsoft Azure infrastructure. If you want to connect the software/digitalization item in your application to a concrete roadmap, our digital transformation consulting service can support a pre-application needs assessment. Browse our full solution portfolio on the solutions page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the KOSGEB Global Competitiveness Support Programme?
Businesses registered in the KOSGEB database, with a current Business Declaration, operating as a limited or joint-stock company, and meeting at least one of: rapid growth with rising exports, growing R&D investment, high-technology activity, inclusion in the HAMLE priority products list, or participation in the Turcorn 100 Programme.
When is the application deadline?
The 2026 first-round application opened September 7, 2026, and closes September 30, 2026. Confirm the exact date and any further rounds via kosgeb.gov.tr.
What’s the credit ceiling and how does repayment work?
The credit floor is 30 million TL and the ceiling is 75 million TL. KOSGEB covers 20 points of the drawn credit as non-repayable financing; the remaining balance is repaid to the bank over a term of up to 36 months, and the process can be backed by a Credit Guarantee Fund surety.
Can software/ERP investment be funded through this programme?
The programme lists software expenses and service procurement — including consulting — as separate eligible items. This means ERP and similar enterprise software investment can be considered within scope; exact eligibility is assessed by KOSGEB during application review.
What’s the difference between this and the Capacity Development programme?
The Global Competitiveness Support Programme has a higher credit ceiling (up to 75 million TL) and a narrower target group limited to export/technology-focused growth businesses. The Capacity Development Support Programme has a broader sector base with a relatively lower credit ceiling. Check with your local KOSGEB provincial directorate to clarify which programme fits your business.
Sources
- Ahaber — KOSGEB’s new financing support for SMEs
- Takvim — Financing support up to 75 million TL for SMEs
- KOSGEB — Global Competitiveness Support Programme
The amounts, dates, and conditions in this article reflect sources current as of 2026-09-07; confirm the latest terms via kosgeb.gov.tr before applying.