site.btaDeputy Innovation Minister Urges Businesses to Seek EU Funding for Their Projects

Addressing a Bulgarian-Turkish Business Forum in Shumen on Thursday, Deputy Innovation and Growth Minister Krasimir Yakimov urged businesses to take advantage of the EU funding opportunities. Two new procedures under the Competitiveness Programme and the Research and Innovation Programme for a total of over BGN 200 million will soon be opened for applications, he said.

He noted that in 2025 alone, the ministry will unlock a resource of over BGN 900 million. "Whenever I have the opportunity to speak among businesses, I allow myself to call on you to be active, to apply and to take advantage of the opportunities that the Innovation and Growth Ministry provides you. These funds will not only develop your companies, but they will develop and ennoble entire regions," Yakimov stressed.

"Within the current programming period under the Competitiveness and Research programmes, as well as under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, in Shumen Region we have supported 81 companies with over BGN 19 million, and these funds have largely already been paid out and have actually entered the local economy", he said.

He pointed out that Turkiye is undoubtedly one of Bulgaria's largest and most important foreign economic partners. "Trade between the two countries is traditionally extremely high, and in 2024 even set a new record of EUR 7.3 billion", he stressed,  adding that over the years, the Innovation and Growth Ministry has issued investor certificates to 32 companies with Turkish capital, with a total investment of BGN 1.2 billion and over 4,300 jobs created or to be created.

He commented that 19 investment projects have been certified by the Innovation and Growth Ministry in Shumen Region alone, which are worth a total of BGN 1.3 billion and created over 1,500 new jobs. "We strongly believe in good relationships, collegiality and the development of long-term partnerships. When I see the people in this hall, I see not only friends, colleagues, partners, I see actually achieved results and, more importantly, I see huge potential for the future," Yakimov emphasized.