Republic of Türkiye — Support Programs for the Mobile Gaming & IT Sectors
National Support Programs for the Mobile Gaming & IT Sectors program designed to accelerate the internationalization of Turkish software, gaming platform and digital services companies.
Its purpose is to de-risk market entry and scale-up by financing core needs across the growth journey, strategic planning, localization and certification, global marketing, talent acquisition, overseas offices, testing and compliance, and large-scale infrastructure such as data centers.
By lowering upfront costs and strengthening brand, capability, and trust in target markets, the program aims to boost export revenues, enhance global competitiveness, and catalyze sustainable, innovation-led growth and high-value employment in Türkiye’s ICT sector.
Who Is Eligible? (Eligibility)
Program targets Turkish ICT companies—software, gaming platforms, and digital services—that plan to expand internationally. In practice, beneficiaries are companies that:
Operate in scope: produce or commercialize software, games, digital platforms, or related services.
Pursue export growth: have a concrete plan for entering or scaling in foreign markets (go-to-market, target countries, channels).
Meet compliance basics: are properly registered and up-to-date on tax/social security obligations; maintain clean bookkeeping and auditable records.
Show capability: possess or can procure the team, technology, and partners required to execute the plan (e.g., localization, certification, marketing).
Align with program rules: accept that each support item has its own measurement unit (annual, per unit-year, per event, first X items, etc.) and documentation standards.
Note: Company size is not a barrier per se. Prior export revenue helps but is not strictly required if the internationalization plan is credible and well-documented.
Duration & Program Cycle
Support is multi-year but managed on an annual plan-and-report basis:
Overall tenure: Most support items are available for several years (often up to five), while project-type items (e.g., high-value ICT projects) and data center support may have distinct, shorter windows as specified.
Annual planning: Each year you set targets and budgets by support item (e.g., marketing, localization, staffing, office abroad).
Approval → Spend → Reimburse: After approval, you incur eligible expenses in line with the guideline; reimbursements are claimed with invoices, contracts, deliverables, and evidence (screenshots, reports, proof of use).
Digital workflow (DYS): Applications, revisions, and claims are filed and tracked in the Ministry’s online system; deadlines and formats matter.
Monitoring: You report activities and KPIs (e.g., users, leads, certifications achieved, deals, revenue by market). Results inform continued eligibility and next-year planning.
Practical tip: build a simple compliance calendar (tendering, contracting, campaign windows, events, claim cut-offs) and a document checklist for each item to avoid last-minute gaps.
Support Program
1) Financial & Legal Supports
Registration & Protection: Expenses for registering, renewing, and protecting trademarks, patents, and other intellectual property in overseas markets are supported. The aim is to position the brand securely and safeguard long‑term reputation.
(2025 annual cap: 2,735,107 TL/year)
Patent / Design / Model Acquisition: To accelerate technology and design capabilities, licensing and the purchase of patents or designs/models from abroad are eligible for support.
(2025 annual cap: 2,735,107 TL/year)
Strategic Business Plan: Comprehensive export‑oriented roadmaps—covering market selection, revenue model, and organizational structure—prepared with a consultant are supported.
(2025 one‑off cap: 5,470,213 TL)
Advisory for Overseas Company/Brand/Software Acquisitions: Legal, financial, and technical due diligence and contracting advisory for purchasing companies, brands, software, or digital platforms abroad are covered.
(2025 annual cap: 13,677,808 TL/year)
These items are critical for scaling and risk management; the program aims to help firms that craft the right strategy and protect their IP achieve lasting success in foreign markets.
2) Marketing & Promotion Supports
Internationalization hinges on brand awareness and demand generation. This group covers general promotion as well as product/service‑specific marketing activities, product placement, commissions, and event participation.
Advertising, Promotion & Marketing (General & Product‑Specific): Supported items include digital campaigns, content production, media buying, and adapting web/mobile assets to target markets. “General” promotion strengthens brand positioning, while “product‑specific” promotion drives near‑term sales impact.
(2025 annual cap: 16,415,190 TL/year)
Product Placement: Securing brand/product visibility in films, series, and digital games builds trust and shapes perception in target markets.
(2025 example: software/digital game/mobile app/platform – 5,470,213 TL/year)
Market Entry: Localization, multilingual content, certification, and standards compliance are supported—accelerating alignment with local regulations and user expectations.
(2025 annual cap: 10,942,702 TL/year)
Commission Supports (Platform/Agency): Commissions charged on game, app, or digital platform sales, as well as agency/distribution commissions, are supported within set limits.
(2025 cap: 14,980,500 TL – first 3 items, each)
Overseas Events (Individual/National Participation): Participation in fairs, conferences, and seminars is supported to facilitate direct customer acquisition and ecosystem visibility.
(2025 cap: 1,367,553 TL per event)
The common goal across these items is to reduce upfront market‑entry costs, deliver effective messages to the right audiences, and accelerate conversions.
3) Technical & Operational Supports
This group covers the technical and operational items required to sustain production, strengthen teams, and scale infrastructure.
Development Personnel: Salary costs for software, game, and platform development teams are supported at specified rates and limits; additional incentives may apply for recent graduates.
(2025 cap: 2,735,107 TL per person‑year)
Equipment/Hardware Rental & Software Licensing: Expenses for devices, tools, and licenses used in development are supported—keeping the technology stack current and competitive.
(2025 annual cap: 5,470,213 TL/year)
Testing & Compliance: Processes that document compliance with international standards—such as testing, security, and quality—are supported; certification lowers market‑entry barriers.
(2025 cap: 5,470,213 TL)
Overseas Talent Search & Individual Memberships: Costs related to recruitment abroad (job posts, commissions, etc.) and memberships to international digital platforms are eligible.
(2025 annual cap: 2,735,107 TL/year)
Establishing/Operating Overseas Units & Star Technology Offices: Opening offices/representative branches and operating promotional‑marketing offices in target markets are supported—speeding on‑the‑ground sales and customer success operations.
(2025 cap: 6,564,711 TL per unit‑year)
These supports focus on enhancing team capability, documenting product quality, and relocating operations closer to target markets to accelerate growth.
4) Large‑Scale Projects
High Value‑Added IT Contractor Project: For large‑scale software/system projects, equipment, software, consulting, and certain personnel costs are supported. A project‑based approach allows phased progress aligned with output and impact.
High‑Value ICT Contractor Project: Supports large software/system projects (equipment, software, advisory, specified personnel). (2025 cap: 3,595,320 TL per project / 2 years; for each additional 17,976,600 TL, add +3,595,320 TL and +2 personnel)
Data Center Support: Establishing and operating data‑center infrastructure abroad—as well as related promotional activities—are supported. This is a critical lever for business models requiring low latency, regulatory compliance, and enterprise‑grade trust.
(2025 annual cap: 44,941,500 TL/year)
Overall, this pillar provides a “capacity and trust” foundation for players competing globally—supporting both performance and the security/compliance parameters required in enterprise sales.
List of Supported Advertising, Promotion and Marketing Activities
TV & Radio
TV/Radio commercials
Digital Media
Advertisements placed on digital media
Design, maintenance, updates, and content creation for websites/mobile apps/social media accounts
Printed Promotion
Posters
Brochures
Leaflets/flyers
Newspaper/magazine advertisements
Catalogs
Indoor & Outdoor Promotions
Electronic screens
Billboards/boards/signage
Building/facade/wall/roof advertising
Ads/wraps at stops or on vehicles
Totem (pylon) advertising
Advertising via airplanes/parachutes/drones
Special Promotions
Launch events, special exhibitions, screenings, and press promotions for institution/company/brand and service promotion
Brand promotion and media monitoring conducted through public relations agencies
Sponsorships
Cinema advertising
Promotional films
Promotions carried out through social media influencers
Other Promotion/Marketing Activities
Bulk e-mail/SMS/MMS campaigns
Give-away/merchandise items
No. Only expenses incurred after approval and within the eligible period are reimbursable.
Invoices, contracts/orders, payment proofs, deliverables (e.g., screenshots, creatives, test reports), and usage evidence. Keep them consistent (supplier, dates, scope, currency).
Typically non-eligible unless the guideline explicitly allows. File claims on net amounts
Varies by item: annual, per unit-year, per person-year, per event, or “first X items (each).” Your plan and claims must respect the correct unit.
Yes, but no double funding for the same expense. Different parts of a project can be financed by different programs if clearly separated.
Foreign invoices are fine if they match the approved scope and are properly translated/converted. Use official exchange rates per the guideline when converting.
Helpful, not strictly required. A credible internationalization plan, capacity, and compliance discipline are key.
No. Claims must fall within your approved program year (and any specific item window).
Yes, if arm’s-length, contracted, and deliverables are clear. Related-party rules and procurement norms must be respected.
Spending before approval, mismatched invoices vs. scope, missing evidence, claiming the wrong limit unit, duplicate funding, and late submissions in the DYS portal.
Don’t wait till year-end. File periodically (e.g., quarterly) to smooth cash flow and catch documentation gaps early.
The company—unless your contracts say otherwise. Keep IP clauses clean to avoid eligibility issues on development and licensing claims.
Yes—if they’re budgeted under the correct sub-items and each stays within its own cap and rules.
Not always, but clean segregation of project expenses (labels, folders, cost centers) speeds audits and approvals.
Proteşvik Yönetim ve Danışmanlık Hizmetleri, farklı iş kollarında ve farklı ölçeklerdeki kamu şirketleri ve özel sektör kuruluşlarında, çeşitli proje ve girişimlerde 15 yılı aşkın süredir tecrübe ve birikim sahibi olmuş profesyoneller tarafından kurulan bir limited şirkettir.
