What is KOSGEB?
The Küçük ve Orta Ölçekli İşletmeleri Geliştirme ve Destekleme İdaresi Başkanlığı (KOSGEB) is Türkiye’s Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organisation, established under 3624 sayılı Kanun and operating under the Ministry of Industry and Technology. KOSGEB administers Türkiye’s largest portfolio of SME and entrepreneurship grant and credit support programmes, with more than TL 17 billion of support paid out across its programmes in 2025.
Key entrepreneurship programmes
- Girişimci Destek Programı: İş Kurma Desteği (non-repayable establishment support for founders who have completed the entrepreneurship training and apply within one year of incorporation) and İş Geliştirme Desteği (repayable business development support).
- SME programmes: other active programmes include the Kapasite Geliştirme, Küresel Rekabetçilik, KOBİ Dijital Dönüşüm and Yeşil Sanayi support programmes.
Programme mechanics
- Online application: via e-Devlet and KOSGEB’s online system.
- Mandatory Applied Entrepreneurship Training (Uygulamalı Girişimcilik Eğitimi): prerequisite for most entrepreneurship grants.
- Geri ödemesiz (non-repayable) vs. geri ödemeli (repayable) components vary by programme.
- Sectoral and regional preferences: additional support in priority development regions and strategic sectors.
Coordination with other programmes
KOSGEB programmes often stack with TÜBİTAK BiGG, TGB technopark tax benefits, and Türkiye İhracat Kredi Bankası (Türk Eximbank) credit support. Founders should map the support landscape early to optimise the combined funding stack.
Do: attend Uygulamalı Girişimcilik Eğitimi early; map KOSGEB, TÜBİTAK and Eximbank programmes for stacking opportunities; submit applications through e-Devlet with complete supporting documentation.
Don’t: apply piecemeal: KOSGEB evaluates applicants holistically and prior application discipline matters.