site.btaInnovation Ministry: SMEs Can Apply under New Competitiveness Programme in January 2023

The Ministry of Innovation and Growth opens for applications the first procedure of the new programme "Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises" 2021-2027 in January 2023. The programme will be dedicated to the development of innovation in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a budget of BGN 127 million.

The programme, a continuation of the outgoing Operational Programme Innovation and Competitiveness 2014-2020, was sent the to the European Commission for approval on August 16 and was approved on October 3. Its budget of BGN 3 billion will be used to support innovation in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises at different stages of their development. It will pay for partnership projects between SMEs and large companies to develop new technologies and innovations.

The programme's two main priorities are Innovation and Growth and Circular Economy. Funds will be provided for the development and implementation of innovations in companies, development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, creation of new and development of existing companies with a focus on high-tech sectors of industry, protection of patents, industrial property, etc. It will stimulate digitization, increase cybersecurity and data privacy in SMEs. In addition to greater energy efficiency and self-sufficiency of companies, the second priority, Circular Economy, includes funding for more efficient use of resources, development of products with greater durability and recyclability, increasing the use of secondary raw materials, improving waste management, etc.

The Ministry's next procedure with a budget of BGN 117.5 million also opens in early 2023. Its goal is to improve the production capacity of SMEs, family businesses, companies from the creative industries and crafts. It will be followed by a third procedure, by mid-2023, aiming to introduce innovations worth nearly BGN 300 million in SMEs.