site.btaBelgian Investor to Build Solid-state Battery Plant near Stara Zagora, Innovation Minister Stoycheva Says

The Innovation and Growth Ministry has signed an agreement with a Belgian investor who plans to build a solid-state battery plant near Stara Zagora, Innovation and Growth Minister Milena Stoycheva told BTA on Thursday. Stoycheva added that 800 new jobs would be created if the project is implemented.

"We have signed a memorandum of understanding for an investment plan to be implemented within the next 3-4 years. This will produce batteries of a new generation," the minister added, recalling that Bulgaria has signed an agreement to develop a hydrogen valley. Trakia University is the lead partner in the project. The Innovation Ministry will financially support the project in order to create one of the eight hydrogen valleys in Europe, Stoycheva emphasized.

"The valley is extremely important for the positioning of Bulgaria as a place for innovation. I have taken the initiative to build an innovation hub for South East Europe through Bulgaria. We are initiating and currently developing cooperation in innovation and deep technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem with Romania, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro and, possibly, Serbia. This will be our chance to engage in Europe in a new way," Stoycheva explained.

"We are in the era of partnerships and if we do not cooperate and create conditions for development, we have no chance for competitiveness," the minister also warned.