Bulgaria to back science-business cooperation with 44 mln euro grants

The first programme, with funding of 25 million levs, will support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by facilitating their use of scientific organisations and centres of excellence and competency, the minister said in a press release. It will include financing to access knowledge-intensive services, laboratory tests, analyses and expertise.

The second initiative, with a budget of 60.7 million levs, aims to foster sustainable solutions through green digital services and eco-innovations. It will boost the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by turning environmental challenges into opportunities for innovation and economic growth, which will improve quality of life and reduce environmental impact.

The schemes are financed through the Scientific Research, Innovation and Digitisation for Smart Transformation programme, which aims to promote cooperation between the academic and business sectors, develop the innovation potential of SMEs and support cutting-edge scientific and innovation projects.

(1 euro = 1.95583 levs)