DOGU MARMARA AVRUPA BIRLIGI IS GELISTIRME MERKEZI (ABIGEM) AS

Their core work

Doğu Marmara ABIGEM is an EU Business Development Center (ABIGEM) operating in the East Marmara region of Turkey, specifically in Kocaeli. Their core function is helping local SMEs access EU innovation support services, including guidance on the SME Instrument and other Horizon 2020 funding opportunities. They act as a regional intermediary between Turkish small businesses and European innovation programs, providing innovation management consulting rather than conducting research or technology development themselves.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their focus has remained remarkably consistent from 2017 through 2021 — all three projects are successive editions of the same INNOV-EM initiative, delivering innovation management services to the East Marmara region. There is no meaningful pivot or diversification visible in the data; the organization has deepened its role in one specific niche rather than branching out. The growing EC contribution (from EUR 9,500 to EUR 18,375) suggests expanding scope within the same mandate over time.

They are a stable, specialized regional support organization — expect continued focus on SME innovation services rather than a shift into new technical domains.

How they like to work

Doğu Marmara ABIGEM has always participated as a partner, never as a coordinator, across all three projects. Their consortium experience is narrow: only 5 unique partners and collaboration limited to a single country. This profile is typical of a regional support node embedded in a fixed network (likely an Enterprise Europe Network or similar structure), meaning they are reliable repeat partners within their network but not active consortium builders seeking new European collaborations.

They have worked with just 5 unique consortium partners, all within a single country. This suggests a tight, locally anchored network — likely a fixed regional cluster rather than a broad European partnership base.

What sets them apart

Their value lies in being a gateway to the East Marmara industrial region of Turkey, one of the country's most important manufacturing and industrial corridors (Kocaeli hosts major automotive, chemical, and energy companies). For European consortia needing a Turkish partner with strong local SME networks and experience managing EU-funded innovation services, they offer a ready-made connection to the region's business ecosystem. However, they are a support organization, not a technology provider — partner with them for market access and SME outreach, not for R&D capability.

Highlights from their portfolio

• INNOV-EM
  Sustained across three consecutive funding periods (2017-2021), demonstrating consistent EU trust in their regional innovation management delivery.
• INNOV-EM (2020-2021)
  The final edition nearly doubled their EC contribution to EUR 18,375, suggesting expanded responsibilities or proven performance in earlier rounds.