Since the beginning of January, the Ministry of Innovation has financed the growth of science and innovation in business with BGN 2.14 billion
Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, universities, research organizations, large companies in cooperation with small and medium-sized enterprises, municipalities and NGOs will be financed
From the beginning of January 2023, the first procedures under the Program "Scientific research, innovation and digitization for intelligent transformation" 2021-2027 (PSRIDIT) with a budget of BGN 2.14 billion will be launched. For the first time in the history of management of European funds in Bulgaria, there is a special European program to support the business-science relationship. It was sent by the Ministry of Innovation and Growth to Brussels on October 26 and received approval in record time - on December 5.
BGN 550 million of national and European funding will support the industry-academia relationship through various grant schemes, vouchers, etc.
Universities, research organizations, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as large companies in cooperation with small and medium-sized enterprises will be able to apply for the program. Under some of the measures, joint participation of the above-mentioned entities together with NGOs, large enterprises and municipalities will be permissible.
The program has two priorities - "Sustainable development of the Bulgarian research and innovation ecosystem" and "Digital transformation of the public sector".
According to the first priority, the already established Centers of Excellence and Competence Centers will be developed, the implementation of technologies, the transfer of knowledge and the shortening of the path from research to innovation will be supported. Projects that received the Seal of Excellence quality mark under the EC's Digital Europe and Horizon Europe programs will also be funded. Investments will be made in industrial innovation programs to develop technologies to make regions more competitive and climate neutral.
According to the second priority, the digitization of the public sector, the increase of cyber security in the administration, the creation of data spaces, open access to science, etc. will be financed.
The program contains three strategic interventions. The first is for BGN 140 million to build a national network of 12 digital and innovation hubs - associations between business, scientific organizations and universities, the non-governmental sector and technological and business mediators. The second is for over BGN 280 million for the development of the Centers of Excellence and the Centers of Competence, built under the Operational Program "Science and Education for Intelligent Growth" (2014-2020). The third strategic intervention is for BGN 50 million – a voucher scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises to promote cooperation and use the potential in Centers of Excellence, Competence Centers, sites from the National Roadmap for Scientific Infrastructure and other scientific research organizations and higher schools.
The program is the main tool for achieving an intelligent transformation of the Bulgarian economy through investments in scientific research and innovation. BGN 550 million of national and European funding will support the industry-academia link through various grant schemes.
In addition to the leading role of the Ministry of Innovation and Growth, two more intermediate units are involved in the implementation of some measures of the program - the Education Program Executive Agency and the Ministry of e-Government.