Call for Proposals for the SME’s:

Main Objective of the Program:
The main objective of the program is to encourage sustainable economic development in the TR 83 Region, increase competiveness of the enterprises and support their engagement in external markets, help them have high technology and qualified work force, and be able to adapt to changing conditions and to increase the capacity of the region in implementing the financial support programs compatible with the local priorities.

The Priorities of the Program:
Priority 1: Providing consultancy and investment support to the enterprises in the region about management and technology,
Priority 2: Supporting entrepreneurship, innovation, modernization and trading culture,
Priority 3: Encouraging use of environmentally-conscious technology and production.
It is also a priority to increase the fullness ratio of Organized Industrial Zones and Small Industry Sites and encourage new investment projects to make them able to use their potential more effectively.
Primary Sectors of the Program:
• Industries using minerals other than metal and producing marble, tile/brick, medical tools and wood.
• Industries producing consumption goods in the region (garment, textile, machinery, electricity machines, metalwork etc.)
• Investments in tourism sector.

Financial Source of the Program:
The total amount for the projects which would be supported is 14.500.000 Turkish Liras (TL). The aid amount will between:
           Minimum: 20.000 TL
           Maximum: 400.000 TL
The aid cannot be less than 25 % and more than 50 % of the total acceptable expenditures of the project.
Who Can Apply?
• SME’s ( real and legal persons defined as SME’s according to the relevant Regulation)
• An SME must be autonomous. It is considered autonomous provided that no more than 25 % of its capital or voting rights belong to one or several other enterprises which themselves do not meet the definition of a SME.
In addition to these;
• The project activity should be within the sphere of duty  and authority of the SME,
• The headquarter or the legal branches of the enterprises must be situated in NUTS 2 Region (Amasya, Çorum, Samsun, Tokat)
• The SME should be directly responsible for preparation and administration of the project (if exist together with its partner), should not act as mediator,
• The SME should be founded at least 3 months before the announcement of the project call.

Project Topics (cited as examples, the topics are not limited to these)
Suggested activities should aim to encourage entrepreneurship, innovation, modernization and trading culture. By this way, increasing competitiveness of the enterprises and their engagement in external markets should be supported.

Aid to the SME’s is going to compose of grants covering a wholistic business development plan in the form of services and financial support.

The projects may cover the following topics:
• Increasing production capacity, improving quality and efficiency and as a result of these putting modern production technologies in place to increase the marketing of concerned goods and services,
• Besides new production units, increasing existing production capacities of SME’s and modernizing them,
• Realization of necessary investments for the provision of quality certificates compatible with international standards of technology and quality,
• Realization of investments related to  provision of R&D, technology transfer and information technology,
• Realization of investments in tourism industry such as restoration and rehabilitation of old and traditional buildings,
• Access to markets, especially strengthening exports of enterprises covering activities such as  marketing, market development, product design and development, new technologies, establishment of quality assurance and certification systems, improvements in administration and organization, access to databases and market information, participation to exhibitions, fairs and visits to other business firms.

Duration and Place of the Projects:
• Maximum duration for the projects is 12 months.
• Projects should be placed in TR83, NUTS region (Amasya, Corum, Samsun and Tokat).