The biggest mistake when hearing “KOSGEB or TÜBİTAK support” is treating the program as a cash cheque independent of the business. Support bodies expect a defined problem, execution capacity, eligible costs, measurable results and an applicant that meets the rules. Support should be engineered into a sound project.
KOSGEB: growth and institutional capacity
KOSGEB programs operate through changing application windows. The 2026/3 Capacity Development Support Program opened on 22 August 2026 and closes on 15 September 2026. KOSGEB states that the period supports scale-up and digital-transformation investments that strengthen productivity, resilience, production capacity, market size and institutional structure. The announced project period is 24 months, the credit term 36 months, and eligible loans receive a 20-point non-repayable financing-cost contribution. The investor’s question is not “How much can I get?” but “Which part of the expansion plan qualifies, on what terms and with what documentation?”
TÜBİTAK 1501 and 1507: real R&D
1501 Industrial R&D and 1507 SME R&D Start-up support technology-development projects that can be technically evaluated. A normal machine purchase does not become R&D automatically; the file needs a technical problem, development work, resources, outputs and testing.
TÜBİTAK 1832: green transformation as productive investment
The 1832 Green Transformation in Industry 2026-2 call is open from 3 August to 28 September 2026. It supports commercialization-oriented R&D for greener production and better energy/resource efficiency, including prototype improvement, validation, pilot production and mandatory scale-up. The call accepts SMEs and large enterprises, subject to its detailed rules.
Where different companies should start
- Technology start-up: examine R&D, innovation and skills programs.
- Existing factory expanding: examine investment incentives, KOSGEB and efficiency/green routes.
- Exporter: add free-zone and logistics analysis.
- Automation or robotics project: separate equipment purchase from genuine technical-development content.
Documents that strengthen the file
Business plan, financial statements, quotations, financing structure, HR plan, before/after KPIs, technical description, implementation schedule, risk register and permits. These documents improve the investment decision even if no support is awarded.
Decision checklist
- Confirm the exact program and current call period.
- Understand eligibility before sensitive expenditure begins.
- Separate genuine R&D from equipment purchasing.
- Test liquidity and self-financing capacity.
- Maintain a viable plan without support.
Official sources and review
Reviewed on 10 September 2026; deadlines and conditions can change.
Investing in Data Centers and AI in Türkiye 2026: Opportunity & Feasibility Guide