site.btaCentre for Research and Development in Defence to Be Built in Stara Zagora

Bulgaria will establish a modern centre for research and development in the field of defence technologies and dual-use solutions, the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works said on Friday.

The centre will be built in the Stara Zagora region, South Central Bulgaria, and will be funded with EUR 85 million under the Development of the Regions 2021-2027 Programme managed by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works. The initiative was presented during the ninth meeting of the Programme Monitoring Committee chaired by Deputy Regional Development Minister Yura Vitanova.

The new centre will aim to develop innovative technologies and solutions in the field of defence, including research into the extraction of valuable materials from coal fields, as well as the introduction of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in the sector. It will include a training centre for engineering personnel. The project will create new jobs directly related to the development of the region. The initiative is in line with the EU's priorities for strengthening European defence autonomy.

At the meeting, Vitanova said: "We are in an extremely intense period of implementation of the Programme and are catching up on the delay from the beginning of the programming period." She added that the first contracts for three of the main priorities have been signed. Three new procedures for financing photovoltaic systems, socio-economic transformation, and energy communities will be announced by the end of the year.

Vitanova reported that BGN 920 million has been earmarked for 2026 in order to minimize the risk of losing funds.

The members of the Monitoring Committee also decided to allocate over BGN 263 million to the development of the hydrogen industry in the Stara Zagora municipality that will contribute to the construction of a green hydrogen production complex, charging stations, obtaining new vehicles and delivery trailers.

Currently, 30% or slightly over BGN 1.881 billion has been agreed from the budget of the Development of the Regions 2021-2027 Programme. BGN 354 million has been paid to beneficiaries, which represents 5% of the total budget of the programme, and BGN 154 million has been verified by the European Commission, reported Asya Stankova, head of the Directorate General Strategic Planning and Programs for Regional Development.

The meeting was attended by Andreas von Busch and Joerg Lackenbauer of the European Commission, mayors, experts from various ministries, state organizations, the non-governmental sector.