site.btaInnovation Ministry Supports Construction of 8 Innovation Hubs with Nearly BGN 52 Mln

The Innovation Ministry will support the construction of eight new digital and innovation hubs in Bulgaria. They will support businesses and offer services to Bulgarian companies in the field of state-of-the-art technologies, including digital and environmental ones, the ministry said on its official website on Wednesday.

Nearly BGN 52 million will be invested in the construction of these eight hubs, provided by the ministry's Research, Innovation and Digitalisation for Smart Transformation programme. 

To this end, the ministry has opened the "Funding of European Digital Innovation Hubs selected by the European Commission and awarded the Seal of Excellence" procedure. The call for applications will run until 4.30 pm on March 18, 2024. 

Project proposals are submitted fully online.

Thanks to the investment of funds under this measure, small and medium-sized enterprises will have the opportunity to develop their innovation skills. They will improve their capacity in the areas of intellectual property protection, attracting investors, among others.

In September 2023, the ministry provided an additional BGN 13.6 million in co-financing for the construction of the first four innovation hubs in Bulgaria. The remaining funds for their creation were secured from the Digital Europe programme of the European Commission, the announcement said. 

The national network of a total of 12 digital and innovation hubs will provide services to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and public organisations. These services will be free of charge for companies or at prices significantly below market rates.