site.btaCaretaker Innovation Minister Reports on Ministry's Work

Caretaker Minister of Innovation and Growth Rosen Karadimov reported Thursday on the work done by his Ministry and its structures within the first caretaker cabinet with Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev (April to August 2024). The work carried out is in line with four priority areas - promoting investment, including through the development of industrial parks; promoting the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their added value for the growth of the economy and the internationalization of their activities; promoting public investment and projects that are considered a priority for Bulgaria, along with providing funds for projects to reduce regional imbalances; promoting the development of innovation in priority and promising economic areas such as the defence industry, dual-use manufacturing, microelectronics and space, the report reads. 

Eleven industrial parks and zones were registered in the reporting period from April to August under the first priority for investment promotion and development of industrial parks. A total of BGN 207 million will be distributed among them under the AttractInvestBG Programme of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The selected sites are located in the cities of Ruse, Shumen, Svishtov, Lovech, Sofia, Burgas, Stara Zagora, Vidin, Targovishte and Sliven. This marks the beginning of a targeted State policy to promote investment through the construction of a network of industrial parks, according to the information in the report.

The InvestBulgaria Agency (IBA) has issued eleven investment project certificates under the Investment Promotion Act during this period. The total amount of funds to be invested by the companies in these projects is BGN 346.5 million as 1,295 new jobs will be created. Eight of the certified projects are in the manufacturing industry, with seven projects promoting high-tech manufacturing. IBA is currently working on 39 applications for certification of investment projects, predominantly in the manufacturing sector.

The section on promoting the competitiveness of Bulgarian enterprises highlights the completed application process under the procedure “Developing Innovations in Enterprises” under the Programme “Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises” 2021-2027, together with the acceleration of the evaluation of the 514 project proposals received. The procedure is aimed at micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, small companies with medium market capitalization and large companies in cooperation with SMEs and has a budget of BGN 127 million. 

In this part, the report also includes the “Support for Family Enterprises, Enterprises in the Creative Industries and Crafts” under the 'Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises' Programme, which is open for applications. Micro and small enterprises applied for BGN 117.5 million. Applicant companies can receive from BGN 15,000 to BGN 150,000. 

This part also includes the adopted strategy for the Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) for the period 2024-2026. It allows the BDB to further develop its statutory functions, contributing to economic growth by financing public investment and supporting national policies, including reducing regional imbalances. The new strategy enables the Bank to support strategic sectors for the country. 

Caretaker Minister Karadimov's report also notes the work on the creation of an administrative structure and rules for a "fast track" for the implementation of a mechanism for rapid processing and issuance of a work permit for highly qualified professionals from non-EU countries to work in Bulgaria for up to four years. The fast track will be administered until the e-Government Ministry develops specialized software.

Work on the submitted applications for the "start-up visa" is also noted, as the three applications received for the "start-up visa" certificate are at the stage of consideration by the Expert Council. The statistics also include one "start-up visa" certificate issued and two other decisions for extension of validity issued.  

Regarding policies to promote the competitiveness of Bulgarian enterprises and the support provided to them to enter international markets, the report also addresses the work of the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) and the Fund of Funds. 

The part of the report on the promotion of research and innovation focuses on adopted by Parliament Scientific-Research and Innovation Promotion Act, the work on the formation of the Innovation Council and the preparation of the Rules of Procedure of the new National Innovation Fund. It also includes information on the process of upgrading the Discoverer supercomputer launched by Sofia Tech Park and the work started on the preparation of the mid-term evaluation of the Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization in 2025. 

On policies to promote innovation in space, defence, microelectronics and hydrogen, the report focuses on Bulgaria's deepening links with the European Space Agency; the consultations on the designation of a national competent authority for the Galileo Public Regulated Service, Governmental Satellite Communications and Secure Connectivity programmes; the ongoing work on the National Space Strategy and the establishment of a National Space Agency.

In the area of defence and the production of dual-use goods, the report focuses on actions to encourage Bulgarian companies to apply to the NATO Innovation Fund and to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Defence Innovation Accelerator in the North Atlantic (DIANA), where the DIANA application areas have been expanded from three to five since this year. Emphasis is also placed on the participation of the Innovation Ministry in the Specialised International Defence Equipment and Services Exhibition "Hemus" in June as one of the organizers of the event. 

Regarding hydrogen-related activities, the work of the Ministry's Coordination Working Group for the implementation of a National Roadmap for improving the conditions for the deployment of the potential for the development of hydrogen technologies and mechanisms for the production and supply of hydrogen and the signed Memorandum of Cooperation with the EC's Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking are highlighted.

The report also covers the activities surrounding Bulgaria's accession process to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Information is published on the first progress report on the country with the participation of the Innovation Ministry and the e-Government Ministry, presented in April in the framework of the OECD Committee on the Digital Economy. The document made 23 recommendations to the country in 9 areas.    

The last part of the report focuses on efforts to improve coordination with other departments and the innovation ecosystem, where the Minister for Innovation and Growth has a significant role to play.