EEA & Norway Grants. EUR 28.5 million for SMEs, Business Development and Innovation in Bulgaria
EUR 28.5 million will be available to SMEs on the Bulgarian market via the Business Development, Innovation and SMEs Bulgaria programme, to be operated by Innovation Norway. Part of the Norway Grants 2014-2021 financial mechanism, the programme aims to contribute to the reduction of economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area (EEA) and to support the bilateral relations between Norway and the Beneficiary States. According to latest official update from Innovation Norway, the programme is under preparation and a tentative calendar of the activities planned for 2018 will soon be published.
The programme for Business Development, Innovation and SMEs Bulgaria will aim to increase value creation and sustainable growth in Bulgarian business sector and will be dedicated to 2 focus area: Green Industry Innovation and Welfare Technology and Ambient Assisted Living (Health), with at least 50% of the funding planned to be allocated to green industry innovation projects. Moreover, 75% of the total funding will go to Bulgarian SMEs, for projects under 4 areas of support:
- • Innovative technologies, processes and services
- • Sustainable business development
- • Greening of existing businesses and processes
- • Development and implementation of innovative products and services
In the coming weeks, more information will be published regarding the funding conditions and eligibility requirements. Innovation Norway will afterwards organize national and regional information sessions in Bulgaria and Norway.
More details about the overall funding allocation on the Bulgarian market are available here.
