Programm: Innovations and Competitiveness Bulgaria

In a relatively stable external environment, growth will depend on a combination of reforms in key sectors with investments under OPIC 2014-2020, in support of export-oriented economy based on knowledge, innovation and sectors with high added value. OPIC 2014-2020 is an essential tool for the implementation of the policies laid down in the National Strategy for Promotion of Small and Medium–size Enterprises 2014-2020 and the Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialisation of the Republic of Bulgaria.

OPIC 2014-2020 is aimed at special impact in terms of Bulgarian innovation performance in the following indicators: number of local providers, (local business entities engaged in the process of creating innovation), contribution to the value chain, collaboration between business and academia in the field of R&D, capacity for innovation, nature of competitive advantages.

OPIC 2014-2020  consists of  4 priority axes (PA):

• Priority Axis 1: Technological development and Innovation - Increased innovation activity of enterprises
• Priority Axis 2: Entrepreneurship and Capacity for growth of SMEs - Improving the survival rate of SMEs including through stimulating entrepreneurship; Strengthening productivity and export potential of Bulgarian SMEs
• Priority Axis 3: Energy and Resource Efficiency - Reducing energy intensity of the economy; Increase the share of SMEs with introduced resource efficiency measures
• Priority Axis 4: Removing bottlenecks in security of gas supplies - Better interconnectivity with neighbouring gas transmission systems

The eligible persons differ among the priority axes (PA):

• PA 1 - enterprises or group of enterprises (micro, small, medium or lrge ones), including partnerships with research organizations (legal entities as well as other forms of partnerships), agencies, institutions, business organizations and other entities providing services for support of R&D and innovation in enterprises, Sofia Tech Park, technology transfer offices and technology centers, clusters.
• PA 2 start-ups and existing enterprises in the sectors defined in the National Strategy for Promotion of SMEs and in the area of creative and cultural industries, enterprises developing new products and services related to an ageing population, care and health, social entrepeneurship, etc.

(Objective 2.2) existing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises according to the National Strategy for Promotion of SMEs 2014-2020 for operations financed through grants, clusters (including new and existing clusters within the Strategy for the Danube region, the Action Plan, PA 3), business associations as well as organizations and institutions that are associated with implementation of activities and provision of services in support of business and improvement of business environment.

• SMEs
• Ministry of Energy

85 % co-financing by the ERDF

Up to 10% of the costs under PA 2 and PA 3 can be funded under eligibility rules applicable for the European Social Fund, provided that such costs are necessary for the proper performance of the operation and are directly linked to it. 

Bulgarian Ministry of Economy
General Directorate "European Funds for Competitiveness"
21, "6-ti septemvri" Str., Sofia​
Ivelina Peneva
Email: i.peneva@mi.government.bg
Phone: +359 2 9329 275