KOBİGEL — SME Development Support Program

KOBİGEL SME Development Support

Supports Turkish manufacturing firms with project financing for modernization and improved production competitiveness.

KOBİGEL (SME Development Support Program) is a Turkish government grant program administered by KOSGEB — the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization — that funds project-based investments by manufacturing-sector SMEs to improve their competitiveness and add economic value. KOSGEB operates under the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology and has administered SME support programs since its founding; KOBİGEL is its primary project-grant vehicle for existing manufacturing businesses. Eligible sectors are defined by NACE classification and specified per individual call, so applicants must verify sector eligibility for each announced window.

Maximum support per project is 2,000,000 TRY. Personnel costs are covered at 100% on a non-repayable basis within defined limits; machinery, software, and service costs are supported at 70% as repayable or mixed-instrument support. Project durations run 8 to 36 months, with a 4-month extension possible. Applications are submitted online through the KOBİ Bilgi Sistemi (KBS) portal during announced call periods only — KOSGEB does not accept rolling applications outside published windows. Evaluation follows a two-stage process, and final project reports are due within one month of project completion. Ineligible expenses include real estate, building construction, vehicles, and taxes.

The non-repayable personnel cost component is the most favorable element of the KOBİGEL structure, and proposals should maximize team-oriented work packages. Because the machinery and services component carries a repayment obligation, applicants should model the repayment schedule before committing to capital-intensive scopes. The critical action item is monitoring the KOSGEB website and KBS portal for new call announcements, as windows can open and close quickly. Confirming that the applicant's NACE code aligns with the specific call's eligible sector list is required before submitting an application.