Competitive Sectors Programme

Competitive Sectors Programme (CSP)

Competitive Sectors Programme (CSP), is an umbrella program under the financial cooperation betweem the European Union - Turkey that is designed to improve the competitiveness of the enterprises in internal and foreign markets and gathers in itself the Operational Programmes implemented in 7-year periods. CSP, that is implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, aims to increase productivity, accelerate industrialization, and develop a competitive production structure for export.

Competitive Sectors Programme (CSP) First Term (2007-2013)

In the period between 2007-2013, "Regional Competitiveness Operational Program (RCOP)" was implemented which aims to increase the competitiveness of enterprises. With approximately 520 million Euro budget, 46 projects were supported in 43 provinces where per capita income in these regions are below the 75 percent average of Turkey. Within the scope of the projects, the competitiveness of enterprises was increased, tourism infrastructures were strengthened, laboratories, production facilities and R&D centers were established, activities were carried out for clustering, and resources were provided for the use of innovative technologies. You can access to the interim evaluation reports of RCOP from here.

Competitive Sectors Programme (CSP) Second Term (2014-2020)

In the period covering the years 2014-2020, the "Competitiveness and Innovation Sector Operational Programme (CISOP)" is implemented, which supports project ideas that aim to increase the competitiveness of our country by reducing the foreign trade deficit and increasing productivity, especially R&D and innovation projects.

Within the scope of CISOP, aiming to contribute to the transformation of the manufacturing industry; financial support is provided to projects that bring SMEs access to new technologies, implement R&D activities, encourage public-private sector cooperation, use innovative production methods and develop new products. CISOP that provides approximately 260 million euros, enabled project application from all 81 provinces of Turkey.

What Are The Main Goals of CISOP?

In the new period of the program, it is aimed to increase the productivity in industry and production and to contribute to the reduction of the current budget deficit. It is expected that the supports to be provided within the scope of the program will primarily serve these two main objectives.

In Which Provinces Is CISOP Applied?

In CISOP project applications from all provinces of Turkey are accepted. Some activities were prioritized according to the income levels of the regions. For detailed information, you can review section 4.1 Geographical and Thematic Focus of our Operational Programme.

What are the Action and Main Activity Areas of CISOP?

The projects are designed under just one of the main fields of activity listed above.

What Kind of Projects Are Supported Under CISOP?

Within the scope of the Manufacturing Industry Main Activity;

Establishment and activation of common use facilities (workshops, storage areas), increasing the capacities and competencies of the institutions and their employees that own the relevant facilities;
Development of needs analysis and analytical studies, competitiveness strategies and road maps;
Establishment and operationalization of clusters and cluster support structures;
Projects that include consultancy services for publicity and networking activities, organizing capital investment fairs, entrepreneurship camps and promotional tours are supported.

Within the scope of Services and Creative Industries Main Activity;

Needs analysis, surveys and other analytical studies that allow the development of strategies, roadmaps, action plans to help determine the needs of the services sector and creative industries;
Establishment and operation of creative industry laboratories (such as incubators, accelerators, fablab/makerspace) that offer common areas that host creative entrepreneurs/companies;
Promotional activities, design competitions;
Activities such as regional branding, promotion, marketing activities, design and implementation of strategy/action plans for the development of tourism in regions with lower income levels are supported.

Within the scope of Research and Development Main Activity;

Increasing the capacities of existing R&D centers and making them functional;
Strengthening the cooperation ecosystem of the public institutions, universities and industries;
Testing and certification services of R&D activities for prototype production and developed prototypes;
Promoting joint research efforts of universities and industries;
Market research, surveys and other analytical studies to identify commercialization opportunities;
Training and capacity building activities for the management, personnel, researchers and business development managers of R&D centers, entrepreneurs and SMEs;
Needs analysis, research and other analytical studies, policy recommendations for legislative improvements to strengthen university-industry cooperation;
In particular, projects involving awareness raising and capacity building activities regarding social innovation are supported.

Within the scope of Technology Transfer and Commercialization Main Activity;

Making structures such as technology transfer offices (TTO), technology development zones (TDZ), accelerators, incubation centers, R&D centers more effective, as well as training and capacity building activities for the management, R&D, research and business development managers of these organizations;
International networking activities of TDZs, development and implementation of TTOs and their incubation strategy and/or plans;
Organization and financing of national/international competitions, training camps and events organized for innovative young entrepreneurs, social innovators and/or startup companies, investment promotion events, capital investment fairs, matching activities, mentoring events and gathering activities and/or participation in these events;
Testing and certification services for innovative products to be commercialized, market research, surveys and other analytical studies to identify commercialization opportunities;
Training and similar capacity building activities for entrepreneurs and SMEs;
Projects that involve developing policy recommendations for legal regulations that will strengthen university-industry cooperation in the field of commercialization through needs analysis, research and other analytical studies are supported.

The projects supported under CSP are designed as a set of activities implemented with methods including multiple solutions, including some of the activities listed above.

Projects are evaluated according to the level of contribution they will make to the numerical targets of the Competitive Sectors Programme. Projects must be designed to contribute to the programme's target indicators.

Institutions that can apply to the program

While designing the program, the institutions that can apply for projects are defined as follows: local and regional authorities, public institutions, universities, incubation centers, technology transfer offices, chambers and exchanges, industry and technology-related associations and foundations, general secretariats of exporters' associations, organizations that represent the public and nonprofit business world such as the managements of the organized industrial zones and technology development zones. Thus, it is planned to provide the necessary support to the relevant sectors and to carry out activities that will serve for the benefit of the entire industrial sector.

Provided that it is within the definition made in the program, organizations that can apply for a project may differ according to the title of the project call for proposal. As a matter of fact, institutions that can apply for project proposal calls are limited according to the subject of the call and published in the call guide.

Although entrepreneurs, SMEs, commercial enterprises, profit-making institutions and organizations cannot apply directly, they can indirectly benefit from program supports through projects that serve for the common benefit of SMEs.

Project application and selection methods

The Operating Structure can make project selections in two ways:

Direct Negotiation: This method refers to the invitation of the Ministry to submit projects to the relevant parties according to the mapping/analysis results to be made by the Ministry within the scope of CISOP and the process of selecting the projects to be submitted according to certain criteria. In the mapping/analysis study, budget and time constraints in program activities with project gaps and program indicators are taken into account.

Call for Proposals: In this method, the Operating Structure invites potential applicants to submit their project proposals under the titles in line with the program priorities and in line with the specified criteria.

Two calls for proposals were made during this program period.

Within the scope of CISOP, the first Call for Project Proposals was published in April 2017. 150 project applications were received for this call under the titles of "Manufacturing Industry", "Research and Development", "Technology Transfer and Commercialization". As a result of the call that worths about 115 million Euros, 23 projects were selected to be supported.

The second Call for Project Proposals in this period was published on April 1, 2019. 123 applications were made to this call, where project proposals in the fields of "Creative Industries" and "Research and Development" were collected. At the end of the call for proposals with a budget of 50 million Euros, 11 projects were awarded to be supported.

How Does The Process Work After The Projects Are Accepted?

The processes from the selection of the projects to the completion of the implementation period are described in the table below:

IPA II Sectoral Monitoring Committees

In order to monitor the Competitiveness and Innovation Sectors Operational Program (CISOP) to be implemented during the IPA II Period, a Sectoral Monitoring Committee has been established under the co-chairmanship of our Ministry and the European Commission General Directorate of European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations with the participation of relevant public institutions and economic and social stakeholders.

CISOP Sectoral Monitoring Committee Duties:

To review and approve revisions on criteria within the framework of the general criteria for the selection of projects and programming needs;
At each meeting, reviewing progress in achieving the objectives, planned outputs and results, evaluating the effectiveness, efficiency, quality, coherence, impact and sustainability of existing programs and actions, and the current policy dialogue, relevant national and regional sector strategies and multi-country and/or regional activities in the country ensuring compatibility;
To review annual implementation reports and financial realization of actions;
To review the findings and results and actions taken as a result of on-site control, monitoring and evaluation activities;
To address issues related to the functioning of management and control systems;
To address the problems and actions encountered in program and project implementation;
Review program changes if necessary or request program changes to ensure the achievement of the objectives of actions and to increase the efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability of IPA II assistance;
To review the information, publicity, transparency, visibility and communication measures taken in accordance with Articles 23 and 24 of the Framework Agreement.