site.btaNumber of Installed Industrial Robots in Bulgaria Expected to Rise 5% in 2023 Y/Y - Expert

The number of installed industrial robots in Bulgaria is expected to grow by 5 % this year compared to the previous year, Yonko Chuklev, Deputy Chairman of the Professional Association of Robotics, Automation and Innovations (PARAi), told BTA.

So far, the expected growth in the industry is lower than last year mainly for two reasons. First of all, some Bulgarian enterprises are waiting for the launch of the "Innovation in Enterprises" procedure under the Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises Programme 2021-2027, as well as several similar programmes to support their industrial investments. Secondly, the technical recession in Germany and weaker business activity in the euro area are delaying the investment plans of some foreign investors in the country, Chuklev said.

The total amount of grant funding under the procedure is BGN 293.4 million. The co-financing ranges from 20 % to 45 % depending on the aid scheme chosen, the category of the applicant company and the location of the project. Following alignment with the new requirements of European legislation, the call for applications deadline is expected to be announced in September, the Managing Authority of the Programme told BTA.

According to data recently released by the International Federation of Robotics, sales of industrial robotic systems last year in the European Union registered an increase of 6% compared to the previous year, and nearly 7,200 new robots were installed in the industries of the organization's member countries from January to December 2022, according to the Federation's research cited by the Bulgarian robotics portal robotics-bulgaria.com.

According to Chuklev, to become visible, at least more than EUR 1 billion is needed in the form of a strategic investment in Bulgaria from a potential customer of the robotics industry in industries with high added value related to highly developed automation, such as the production of cars, lithium-ion batteries, electronics and others.

A prerequisite for Bulgaria to become recognizable in the industrial robots market is for the topic, which has been talked about for almost 30 years, to become a reality and for business, science and education to start working together, the expert added. He also highlighted the need for a serious change in our export list, which should be composed mainly of medium and high-tech goods. If the conditions are met, according to conservative estimates, Bulgaria will need about ten years to become an active participant in the industrial robots market, Chuklev said.