IT startup incentives in Turkey are not one package and they are not all grants. A founder may be looking at an equity investment, a project-based R&D grant, a repayable SME support, a Technopark tax regime, an export/service support or private investment. The correct route depends on whether the company already exists, what technology is being developed, which costs need funding and whether the relevant 2026 call is actually open.
As of 17 September 2026, several TÜBİTAK routes are time-sensitive: 1812 BiGG Investment 2026-2 Stage 2 until 30 September 2026 for eligible entrepreneurs who have completed the applicable Stage-1/implementing-organization route, 1832 Green Transformation 2026-2 until 28 September 2026, 1501/2026-2 until 26 October 2026, 1507/2026-2 until 11 November 2026, and 1707/2026-3 until 13 November 2026. The 1501/1507 organization pre-registration deadlines fall earlier. KOSGEB’s 2026 second-period Entrepreneur Support application window has closed; a startup should monitor the official KOSGEB site for a newly announced Entrepreneur Support application period rather than assume an old call remains open.
This guide explains the incentive-route decision for an IT startup. For the detailed Technopark tax calculation, use the 2026 Technopark R&D incentives guide. For Technopark admission, use the Technopark admission guide. For the broader software/service-export support map, use the Turkey software & IT incentives hub.
2026 IT Startup Incentive Route Selector
| Startup position |
Route to check first |
What it is |
12 Sep 2026 status |
| Technology idea at the BiGG founder/acceleration stage |
TÜBİTAK 1812 BiGG Investment |
Pre-seed investment after the applicable acceleration and evaluation stages, not an equity-free grant |
2026-2 Stage 2 is open until 30 Sep 2026 for eligible entrepreneurs progressing through the implementing-organization/Stage-1 route; implementing organizations submit the required entrepreneur documents by 7 Oct |
| Turkey-resident SME with an initial R&D/innovation project |
TÜBİTAK 1507 |
Project-based SME R&D grant route |
2026-2 open; pre-registration 9 Nov, call closes 11 Nov 2026 |
| SME with a larger/continuing industrial R&D project |
TÜBİTAK 1501 |
Project-based industrial R&D grant route |
2026-2 open; pre-registration 22 Oct, call closes 26 Oct 2026 |
| SME developing an R&D solution for an identified customer organization |
TÜBİTAK 1707 Sipariş Ar-Ge |
Customer-organization + SME supplier co-financed R&D route |
2026-3 open 1 Sep-13 Nov 2026; Digital Leadership projects are among the priority topics receiving evaluation advantage |
| Company with an R&D project specifically tied to industrial green transformation |
TÜBİTAK 1832 Green Transformation |
World Bank-backed repayable/grant support architecture under the Turkey Green Industry Project |
2026-2 open until 28 Sep 2026; use only if the project meets the call’s green-transformation and technology-readiness conditions |
| Prior BiGG/1512-supported company that has completed the qualifying project and is seeking seed-stage investment |
TÜBİTAK BiGG+ Seed Investment |
Stage-3 fund investment route for eligible prior program companies |
2026-1 applications announced for 5 Oct-20 Nov 2026; applicant and prior-program conditions apply |
| New SME needing business-development expenditure rather than only R&D |
KOSGEB Entrepreneur Support – Business Development |
Call-based, mainly repayable support plus defined financing components |
2026 second-period window closed 8 May; monitor the next official period |
| Company with an eligible ongoing software/design/R&D project and long-term tax/payroll need |
Technology Development Zone / Technopark |
Law No. 4691 tax/payroll regime tied to approved activity |
Zone/project admission route; not one national grant deadline |
| Software/service exporter |
Ministry of Trade service-export support routes |
Program-specific support for qualifying export activities/expenses |
Check current program/circular and evidence before incurring the cost |
| Mobile app or game company |
Current mobile-app/game support route |
Specialized Ministry of Trade support architecture |
See the dedicated 2026 guide |
| Startup seeking growth equity |
Angel / VC / venture-capital fund |
Private investment, not a government incentive |
Investor-specific; no government entitlement |
The first filter is not “which program pays the most?” It is which program is legally and operationally designed for your current stage and project?
Match the company stage and project to the correct call before preparing an incentive file.
1. BiGG 2026-2: Stage 2 Is Open, but Only Through the Applicable BiGG Route
TÜBİTAK’s 1812 BiGG Investment program moves technology- and innovation-based ideas from acceleration toward a company and market. It is an investment-based program, not an equity-free startup grant.
Under the current 1812-2026-2 pre-seed call, business plans that earn the Seal of Excellence can receive TRY 1,350,000 from the TÜBİTAK BiGG Fund in exchange for 3% equity. Under the call framework, the company may request up to a further TRY 1,350,000 follow-on investment during monitoring.
As of 12 September 2026, the 2026-2 Stage-2 submission period is open from 31 August to 30 September 2026. This is not a general direct-application window for any existing startup: Stage-1 activities are run through implementing organizations, and entrepreneurs who successfully complete the applicable acceleration route can progress to submission. Implementing organizations have until 7 October 2026 to deliver the required entrepreneur documents to TÜBİTAK. Under the current published calendar, evaluation runs from 12 October to 20 November 2026, supported-founder announcements are scheduled for 24-27 November, and company establishment/contract signing remains due by 31 December 2026 for this call.
BiGG therefore fits founders who meet the current program and stage conditions. It should not be marketed as a standing grant that an already-established software company can claim simply because it has a technology product.
Official TÜBİTAK BiGG Investment 2026-2 call
2. TÜBİTAK 1507: Current 2026-2 Route for SME R&D Projects
For a Turkey-resident SME-scale capital company with a genuine R&D, technology-development or innovation project, TÜBİTAK 1507 is a more relevant route than a startup story built around generic operating expenses.
The current 1507/2026-2 call opened 20 July 2026. The organization pre-registration deadline is 9 November 2026 and the call closes 11 November 2026.
A credible 1507 file should connect the requested costs to a specific technical project. Prepare:
- the technical problem and uncertainty;
- the innovation compared with existing alternatives;
- work packages, milestones and measurable outputs;
- personnel roles and project time;
- project-specific software, equipment, service and other eligible cost evidence;
- commercialization potential; and
- the company’s SME/status and financial/organizational records required by the call.
A normal website, routine software customization or ordinary operating expense does not become R&D just because the company is a startup.
Official TÜBİTAK 1507/2026-2 call
3. TÜBİTAK 1501: Larger Project-Based Industrial R&D Route
The current 1501/2026-2 call is another project-based R&D route. It opened 20 July 2026, with organization pre-registration due 22 October 2026 and the call closing 26 October 2026.
For the 2026 second call, TÜBİTAK states that the support rate is 75% for a company’s first five supported projects under the call’s counting rules and 60% from the sixth supported project onward. TÜBİTAK contribution is capped at TRY 20 million per project under the current call.
Do not choose 1501 only because the cap is larger. The project must still survive the technical, commercial and organizational evaluation. The startup should be able to explain why the work is R&D, why the approach is technically credible and how the result will be commercialized.
Official TÜBİTAK 1501/2026-2 call
4. KOSGEB: Business Development Is Not the Same as an R&D Grant
KOSGEB’s Entrepreneur Support Program can be relevant to IT businesses, but the current support should not be described as a permanent basket of free marketing and office grants.
The 2026 second-period Business Development call accepted applications from 20 April to 8 May 2026 and included sectors such as computer programming/consultancy, data processing/hosting/information services and scientific R&D.
That call described Business Development Support as:
- up to TRY 1.5 million;
- 80% support rate;
- repayable support;
- an additional TRY 150,000 limit for specified founder groups; and
- eligible categories including personnel, machinery/equipment, software and specified service purchases.
The call also described a separate financing component for eligible founders. The 2026 second-period application window is now closed, so a startup should monitor KOSGEB’s official site for the next published period rather than submitting an old call form.
Official KOSGEB 2026 second-period Business Development call
5. Technopark: Use It for an Ongoing Qualifying Project, Not Just Lower Tax
A Technopark is a different decision from a grant application. Law No. 4691 can provide tax and payroll benefits for qualifying software, design and R&D activity after the project/company is accepted into the relevant Technology Development Zone and the activity is operated/documented within the statutory framework.
Use this route when the startup has a continuing qualifying technical project and is prepared to maintain project, personnel and accounting evidence. Do not choose a Technopark simply because “taxes are high.”
The detailed 2026 tax mechanics—including exempt profit, personnel withholding rules, SGK support, specified software VAT and the 2026 venture-capital allocation threshold—belong to the Technopark R&D incentives guide. Admission and zone selection belong to the Technopark admission guide.
Technopark benefits follow an accepted and documented qualifying project; they are not a generic startup grant.
6. Software Export and Mobile-App Support: Separate Program Family
An IT company earning revenue from customers abroad can also need a Ministry of Trade service-export analysis. These supports are different from TÜBİTAK R&D grants and Technopark tax exemptions: they focus on qualifying service-export activities and specific supported expenditures under the current program rules.
Do not combine every Ministry of Trade support into a single percentage or assume every overseas software sale creates reimbursement. Eligibility can depend on the legal entity, service category, target activity, approval/evidence timing and payment documentation.
Use the software company incentives hub for the broad route and the mobile app incentives 2026 guide for app/game-specific support.
7. Private VC and Angel Funding Is Not an “Incentive”
Venture capital and angel investment can fund product development and growth, but it is private capital. The investor receives contractual/equity rights and makes an independent investment decision. Government R&D support, Technopark tax relief and private equity can sometimes coexist, but compatibility, use of funds and double-financing rules must be checked.
A startup should not inflate its investor story with unverified national investment statistics. Build an investor-ready evidence pack around the company itself:
- cap table and corporate authority;
- product and IP ownership;
- customer/revenue/usage evidence;
- unit economics and runway;
- R&D/incentive commitments already made;
- tax and accounting records;
- material contracts and liabilities; and
- funding use and milestones.
For the private-capital route, use the venture capital in Turkey guide.
8. Foreign Founders: Nationality Is Not the Only Eligibility Question
Foreign ownership does not automatically disqualify a Turkish company from support, but neither does incorporating a Turkish company automatically make every foreign founder eligible for every program.
Program-specific filters can include:
- founder status and prior company ownership (especially in BiGG);
- Turkey-resident company status;
- SME classification;
- company age;
- sector/NACE activity;
- project R&D/innovation quality;
- approved/project start date;
- prior public support/project count;
- cost/payment/evidence timing; and
- specific call conditions.
Never reduce eligibility to “set up a Turkish company and all incentives become available.” Form the entity only after the target program’s applicant rule and timing are understood.
9. Which Documents Should Be Ready Before an Incentive Application?
| Evidence group |
What to prepare |
| Company identity |
Trade Registry, tax, MERSIS, ownership/authority and SME/status data as applicable |
| Technical project |
Problem, novelty, method, work packages, milestones, team and outputs |
| Budget |
Cost assumptions, quotations where required, personnel/equipment/service breakdown |
| Commercialization |
Target users/customers, validation, pricing/revenue route and competitive context |
| Finance |
Current financial statements/records, funding sources and cash-flow ability for the program mechanics |
| Personnel |
Role, qualification and project allocation evidence |
| Prior support |
Past TÜBİTAK/KOSGEB/Technopark/public support and overlap check |
| Payments/claims |
Bank, invoice, contract, payroll and proof-of-payment controls required by the route |
Apply with the current official form. A perfectly written project in an old template can still fail an administrative gate.
10. A 2026 Incentive Decision in Six Questions
- Does the Turkish company already exist? If no, test BiGG/founder-stage rules before incorporation. If yes, move to company-based programs.
- Is the need R&D project funding or ordinary business-development spending? TÜBİTAK and KOSGEB routes solve different problems.
- Is there a real technical R&D/innovation project? If no, do not force the business into an R&D call.
- Is ongoing zone-based tax/payroll relief more important than one project grant? Then test Technopark fit.
- Is the company exporting software/services or operating a mobile app/game? Add Ministry of Trade route analysis.
- Is the application window open now? Check the official call page and pre-registration deadline before doing expensive application work.
As of 17 September 2026, the immediate call-sensitive routes include 1812 BiGG 2026-2 Stage 2 for founders already progressing through the applicable BiGG route, 1832 Green Transformation 2026-2 where the project genuinely fits the call, and the open 1501/2026-2, 1507/2026-2 and 1707/2026-3 calls. Eligible prior BiGG/1512 companies can also prepare for the announced BiGG+ 2026-1 application window starting 5 October. KOSGEB and any other route should be checked against its current official application window before a funding plan is built.
How Workon Supports Incentive Readiness
Workon can coordinate the company and operational prerequisites around an IT startup: Turkish company formation, registered-address and office solutions, corporate documentation, bank-account process support, D-U-N-S/exporter-registration readiness where relevant, route mapping and handoff to the licensed or specialist professionals who handle regulated tax/legal and technical application work.
TÜBİTAK, KOSGEB, Technopark management companies, the Ministry of Trade and private investors make their own eligibility, evaluation and funding decisions. Workon does not guarantee acceptance, reimbursement, tax exemption or investment.
If your immediate question is company launch rather than incentives, continue with the IT startup in Turkey launch guide.
The routes include project-based R&D grants, call-based KOSGEB support, Technopark tax and payroll regimes and qualifying service-export support. BiGG investment and private angel or VC funding are different financing models. Choose by company stage, project, eligible costs and the current application window.
Foreign ownership does not automatically disqualify a Turkish company, but incorporation does not give every founder access to every program. Check the call's founder status, company age and residence, SME and sector conditions, project quality, prior support and cost-timing rules before committing to a route.
Compare the specific programs. TÜBİTAK 1501 and 1507 focus on qualifying R&D projects, while BiGG is investment-based. KOSGEB Business Development support follows its own sector, applicant, expense and repayment rules. Neither is a permanent grant for every ordinary startup expense.
A Technopark should be chosen around an ongoing qualifying software, design or R&D project and the zone's admission requirements. Its tax and payroll treatment depends on approved activity and continuing project, personnel and accounting evidence; it is not simply a cheaper registered address.
Match the funding stage to the startup's product, team, validation, growth plan and runway. Prepare ownership and IP records, customer or usage evidence, unit economics, contracts and any existing support commitments. Angel and VC investment is a private decision with contractual or equity terms, not an automatic public incentive.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about IT startup incentive and funding routes in Turkey as of September 2026 and is not legal, tax, investment, grant-application or financial advice. Calls, budgets, rates, deadlines and eligibility conditions can change, and support is never automatic. Confirm the current official call and applicant criteria before incorporating for, committing costs to or submitting any incentive application, and use appropriately qualified Turkish professionals where regulated or specialist advice is required.
