site.btaInnovation and Growth Ministry to Invest Close to EUR 310 Mln in Modernizing Businesses in 2026

The Ministry of Innovation and Growth will invest nearly EUR 310 million in modernizing Bulgarian businesses in 2026. The funds will be distributed across five measures under the Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises Program (CIPE), aimed at strengthening industrial capacity, developing clean and resource-efficient critical technologies, and implementing new, more sustainable production models, the ministry’s press office announced.

In the coming days, an application window will open for companies producing defence-related or dual-use products. Eligible items include high-performance computers and microprocessors, radar systems, lidar, cryptographic software, drones, and other unmanned devices, which can be used for surveillance, goods delivery, agriculture, or audiovisual production. The budget for this measure is EUR 70.6 million, and micro, small, medium, and large enterprises may apply.

A second measure, starting this month with a budget of EUR 96.3 million, will support the implementation of new production models. Almost half of the funds (EUR 46 million) are earmarked for companies in under-developed regions in Northern Bulgaria. Micro, small, and medium enterprises may apply to purchase machinery, equipment, specialized software, and other assets to boost their innovation capacity.

Another EUR 28.6 million will be allocated to companies within local initiative groups, enabling investments in modern machinery, equipment, or specialized software to create new products or improve existing ones.

An additional EUR 30 million will support micro, small, and medium enterprises in developing or producing clean and resource-efficient critical technologies. Investments may also contribute to strengthening value chains.

The Innovation and Growth Ministry will continue supporting the adoption of green technologies in 2026. Through integrated territorial investment approaches, nearly EUR 83 million will be made available to micro, small, and medium enterprises for new equipment, machinery, and facilities. The funds are intended to help companies reduce waste, optimize raw material use, and extend product lifespans. Eligible costs will also include specialized software and other intangible assets, such as patents, licenses, or know-how.

At the last government session of 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and outgoing Minister of Innovation and Growth Tomislav Donchev announced that Bulgaria invested around EUR 4 billion in European funds in 2025 - an unprecedented amount in the country’s history - through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and cohesion policy programs.