The Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation creates the conditions for innovative ideas to be transformed into products, services and jobs. The Ministry is shifting from a model of procedural administration to that of a national innovation accelerator: an institution that speaks the language of entrepreneurs and operates at the pace of business and technological progress. We support start-ups and high-tech companies, the transfer of technology from science to the market, and targeted funding for strategic technologies. The aim is to achieve higher and more sustainable growth that does not rely on cheap labour, but rather on high value-added products and services, successful exports and integration into regional and global value chains.
Find funding for innovation
The innovation funding instruments for which MIDT is responsible: national, European and alliance-based.
The government supports innovative companies throughout their development journey, from the initial idea and prototype right through to entering international markets. Choose the instrument that best suits the stage and profile of your project, and apply directly to the relevant institution.
National Innovation Fund (NIF)
Grants for market-oriented applied research.
European Funds for Competitiveness Executive Agency
Enterprise innovation and growth programs.
Horizon Europe / EIC
The largest European research and innovation program.
NATO DIANA
NATO Defense Innovation Accelerator.
NATO Innovation Fund
Dual Use Deep Technology Venture Fund.
European Space Agency (ESA)
Programs and orders for Bulgarian companies in the space sector.
EUSPA
The EU space agency: Galileo, Copernicus and more
Eureka / Eurostars
International networks for market-oriented innovation projects.
Innovation and Research Infrastructure
Modern research and innovation infrastructure is the foundation upon which ideas are transformed into technologies and products. Bulgaria has an established network of technology park, centers of excellence and centers of competence, which are open to partnerships with businesses and scientific organizations.
Sofia Tech Park
Bulgaria’s first science and technology park: laboratories, an incubator, and an innovation forum.
sofiatech.bg →Centres of Excellence and Centres of Competence
Centres of Excellence and Centres of Competence established with European funding provide capacity for research and technology transfer.
Catalogue of Centres of Excellence and Competence (PDF) →Investment Map
An interactive map of the country's research infrastructure.
investmap.government.bg →Partnership with the innovation ecosystem
An innovative Bulgaria is being built jointly by the state, the business sector and the scientific community. The Ministry maintains an ongoing dialogue with industry organisations, entrepreneurs, investors and researchers through two consultative bodies with clearly defined and complementary roles.
Council for Innovation and Scientific Research
(SINI)
A standing advisory body established under Article 16 of the Law on the Promotion of Scientific Research and Innovation, which supports the implementation of the state policy for the promotion of innovation and scientific research.
SINI is an advisory body that supports the coordination of state policy on the promotion of scientific research and innovation with other national policies and strategies. It assists the Minister for Innovation and Digital Transformation and the Minister for Education and Science in implementing this policy.
The Council was established pursuant to the Law on the Promotion of Scientific Research and Innovation (State Gazette No. 39 of 1 May 2024), and its activities, organization of work, and the procedure for appointing its members are regulated by rules issued jointly by the two ministers (published in State Gazette No. 54 of 4 July 2025). Its composition was determined by a joint order based on proposals from interested organizations, and the Council's first meeting took place on November 13, 2025. Topics discussed included the concept for the National Framework Program for Research and Innovation 2027–2034 and measures to accelerate technology transfer.
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Council for Innovation and Technological Development
A new expert advisory body to the Minister, ensuring a direct and constant link between the government and the innovation ecosystem during the formulation of state policy on innovation and technological development.
Structure. The Council consists of up to 11 members. The Chair is the Minister for Innovation and Digital Transformation, the Deputy Chair is a Deputy Minister, and the Secretary is the Director of the ‘Innovation Policy and Entrepreneurship’ Directorate, who participates without the right to vote. Between 5 and 8 members are founders, investors, scientists and technologists from outside the civil service, nominated by sectoral and representative organisations in the fields of ICT, high-tech industry, start-up entrepreneurship, venture capital and scientific research. The term of office is three years, with a maximum of two consecutive terms, and the position is unpaid.
What it does. It maintains an up-to-date list of critical emerging technologies, recommends the removal of regulatory, administrative and financial barriers, monitors the implementation of strategic documents and proposes measures for the development of the start-up ecosystem. Recommendations on matters falling within the remit of other ministries are submitted via the Prime Minister, and the ministries provide feedback within two months; each recommendation has a status and a designated responsible person recorded in a public register.
The Council’s functions are distinct from, yet complementary to, those of the SINI: the two councils do not duplicate each other’s powers and operate under arrangements for coordination and mutual information-sharing.
Innovation Policy
State innovation policy prioritizes technologies with high transformative potential - areas where Bulgaria can build competitive advantages and ensure strategic security.
The Ministry directs, coordinates, implements and oversees the implementation of state policy in the field of innovation: it sets its strategic objectives and priorities, oversees the development and implementation of the Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialisation and other strategic documents, supports the enhancement of innovation activity and innovation culture, the transfer of technology and knowledge, and the promotion of research and development within and for industry. The policy is developed in dialogue with the innovation ecosystem – ranging from support for start-ups and high-tech companies to establishing Bulgaria as a regional innovation hub – and in line with the European Framework for Research and Innovation.
Artificial Intelligence
National capacity and implementation in the economy and public administration. The Ministry develops and implements state policy on the development of artificial intelligence, promotes its adoption by businesses and participates in its introduction into public administration.
Space Technologies
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications (MITD) directs and coordinates space policy and develops the national space sector, cooperating with the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) and the European Union.
Defense Innovation and Dual-Use
Targeted support for companies developing dual-use products, and integration into allied defence innovation programmes such as NATO DIANA and the NATO Innovation Fund.
Encouraging start-ups, industry, academia and the state to collaborate through the Defence Innovation Centre and the Centre of Excellence in Kazanlak.
Co-organiser of the ‘HEMUS’ International Exhibition of Defence Products and Services.
Microelectronics
Building Bulgarian expertise in integrated circuit design, embedded systems and the industrial application of semiconductor technologies. MIDT leads the national microelectronics policy as a critical sector for technological autonomy and supports companies and research organisations in joining European partnerships and supply chains in the sector.
Quantum Technologies
The Ministry directs, coordinates, implements and monitors state policy in the field of quantum technologies. It promotes the development and implementation of solutions in quantum communications, sensors and computing, as well as the participation of Bulgarian companies in European quantum initiatives and supply chains.
Biotechnology
Technology transfer from research to the health and food industries. Fostering links between research organizations and businesses within the bioeconomy - a sector with high value-added potential.
Industry 4.0 / 5.0
Automation and digitalization of manufacturing processes. Measures to introduce Industry 4.0 technologies into enterprises through competitiveness and innovation programs.
Startups and Growth
An environment for entrepreneurship and investment attraction. Development of the startup ecosystem, promotion of venture capital, and establishing Bulgaria as a regional innovation hub.
Strategic Framework
Innovation policy is implemented within the framework of the National Development Programme BULGARIA 2030, the country’s highest-level strategic document, which highlights ‘Smart Industry’ as one of its three key objectives: the development and implementation of innovative products, processes and business models with greater resource efficiency.
The Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialisation 2021–2027 builds on the strengths and ambitions of individual regions and on the process of entrepreneurial discovery to transform regional advantages into competitive innovations, sustainable growth and access to European funding.
National Development Programme BULGARIA 2030
Legislative Framework
In 2024, the Law on the Promotion of Scientific Research and Innovation (LPSRI) came into force, providing a clear direction for the development of science, technology and innovation in Bulgaria and bringing together national policies in this field.
The Act establishes long-term rules governing research and innovation activities and the parties involved. The legislation ensures stable funding and clear governance, aiming to foster more effective collaboration between the academic community and the business sector and to boost innovation in Bulgarian enterprises. On the basis of this Act, the Council for Innovation and Scientific Research (SINI) and the new National Innovation Fund have been established.