site.btaRobotic Surgical Equipment Plant Certified as Priority Project

Outgoing Minister of Innovation and Growth Daniel Lorer has awarded a Priority Investment Project Certificate under the Investment Promotion Act (IPA) to Intuitive Surgical, the Ministry of Innovation and Growth said on Thursday.

The company produces equipment for robotic surgery and will invest BGN 84 million in the construction of a production facility in Parvomay, Plovdiv region.

"This is the eleventh project that has been certified in the last four months alone under IPA (7 for Class A, 3 for Class B and 1 priority project) with a total planned investment of BGN 231.08 million, which will create more than 1,500 new jobs," Lorer said. Eight of these projects are outside the capital, including three in municipalities with unemployment above the national average, and six are related to high-tech manufacturing and services.

"Intuitive Surgical is planning to expand in Bulgaria to strengthen its presence in Europe. The new facility will increase the production capacity of 3D endoscopes used globally in Intuitive Surgical's Da Vinci robotic surgical system, which have so far been manufactured in Germany. In early 2022, the Bulgarian company Intuitive Surgical Bulgaria Ltd, which is owned by the Swiss company, was registered, and will implement the investment project. The facility in Parvomay will produce micro-optics and cable assemblies through laser welding and micro soldering.

Bogdan Bogdanov, Executive Director of the Ivestbulgaria Agency, also attended the awarding of the priority investment project certificate.