OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME
“INNOVATION AND COMPTITIVENESS”
2014-2020
Innovation and resource efficiency
in OPIC
Eco-innovation for air quality
5-6 February 2018, Sofia Tech Park
Sofia, Bulgaria
PA 4 Removing
bottlenecks in
security of gas supplies
PA 5 Technical
Assistance
OP INNOVATIONS
AND
COMPETITIVENE
SS
1,270 mEUR
❖ R&D and innovation in
enterprises
❖ Innovation
infrastructure
❖ Science and technology
parks
EUR 295 million
❖ Entrepreneurship
❖ Production capacity
❖ ICT, standards and
management systems
EUR 577 million
❖ Energy efficiency in
enterprises
❖ Institutional support
❖ Resource efficiency
EUR 311 million
❖ Construction of gas
interconnector Bulgaria - Serbia
EUR 45 million
❖ Management and
control of OP
EUR 41 million
Focus of the support:
➢In order to maximize the impact of the limited public resources, support under Priority Axis 1 is focused exclusively within the specific thematic areas of the Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization (RIS3)
Total Budget:
295.2 mln. EUR
Priority axis 1:Technological Development and Innovation
Support for technological development and innovation in order to boost the innovation
activity of the enterprises
INNOVATION STRATEGY FOR SMART SPECIALIZATIONTHE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA 2014-2020 (IS3)
The Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization (IS3) is an obligatory ex-ante
conditionality under Regulation 1303/2013 for the programming period 2014-
2020, in relation to the funding from ESIF in the field of Thematic objective 1
"Strengthening research, technological development and innovation" of the
Common Strategic Framework.
4
Strategic Priority 1 of the Partnership Agreement: Education, Qualification and Employment for Inclusive Growth
Strategic Priority 2 of the Partnership Agreement: Scientific Research, Innovation and Investments for Smart Growth
Strategic Priority 3 of the Partnership Agreement: Connectivity and Green Economy for Sustainable Growth
INNOVATION STRATEGY FOR SMART SPECIALIZATIONTHE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA 2014-2020 (IS3)
Strategic Vision: Till 2020 Bulgaria will pass from the group of “modest
innovators" to the "moderate innovators" through:
Objective 1: Focus on innovation potential in the identified thematic areas (for creation and development of new technologies, leading to competitive advantages and increase of the added value of domestic products and services).
Objective 2: Support innovation for resource efficiency and ICT applications in enterprises throughout the industry (for accelerated absorption of technologies).
IS3 Pillars:
5
Main purpose: Providing focused support to increase innovation activity of Bulgarian enterprises in the
thematic areas of the Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization (RIS3)
Total Budget (incl. overcontracting): approx. 117 M BGN (59,87 M EUR)
Grant Scheme “Support for Introduction of Innovation in Enterprises”
Eligible applicants:
Micro, small, medium and large enterprises.
The applicants must have at least three completed financial years (2013, 2014 and 2015
Prioritization (via awarding of bonus points) of projects that are introducing Eco-Innovation.
Eligible activities:
Acquisition of long-term tangible assets and long-term intangible assets
Consultancy and support services in favourof innovation.
Investment costs (long-term tangible assets and long-term intangible assets)
Costs for services
Minimum amount of grant: 100 000 BGN
Maximum amount of grant:
SMEs– 1 000 000 BGN
Large undertakings – 1 500 000 BGN
Date of announcement: 23 December 2015
Deadline: 4 April 2016
567 project proposals sent
Status: 153 project proposals in implementation
Eligible applicants/activities Eligible costs
Main purpose: Providing focused support to increase the innovative activity of startups enterprises,
developing innovation in the thematic areas of the Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization (RIS3)
Total Budget (incl. overcontracting): approx. 30.47 M BGN (15,58 M EUR)
Grant Scheme „Support for Development of Innovation by Start-ups“
Eligible applicants:
Micro, small, medium and large enterprises - the applicants must be merchants according to the Bulgarian Commerce Act or the Cooperatives Act
The applicants must have less than three completed financial years
Prioritization (via awarding of bonus points) of projects that are developing Eco-Innovation.
Eligible activities:
Developing innovation in the thematic areas of the RIS3.
Applied research
Creation and testing of prototypes and pilot lines.
Investment costs (long-term tangible assets and long-term intangible assets)
Costs for services
Operating costs
Minimum amount of grant: 50 000 BGN
Maximum amount of grant: 391 166 BGN
Date of announcement: February 2016
Deadline: 5 May 2016
889 project proposals sent
Status: 82 project proposals in implementation
Eligible applicants/activities Eligible costs
16%
17%
43%
24%
Supported projects per RIS pillars
Informatics and ICT
Industry for a healthylifestyle andbiotechnology
Mechatronics andclean technologies
New technologies increative andrecreational industry
59,8 mEUR for 153
projects for introduction
of innovation
15,5 mEUR for 82
projects for development
of innovation
15,8 mEUR
10,9 mEUR
36 mEUR
12,8 mEUR
Mechatronics and Clean
technologies
CleanTech with focus on transport
and energy sector
24 projects 6,4 mEUR
Intelligent systems and
appliances, intelligent homes –
intelligent cities
14 projects 4,6 mEUR
Main purpose:. Growth of the share of undertakings developing and disseminating innovation, as well as
raising the innovative capacity of the undertakings
Budget: 35 000 000 Euro (68 454 050 BGN)
Grant Scheme “Development of product and production innovation”
Eligible applicants: SMEs and large enterprises
Eligible partners: scientific organizations (universities, Bulgarian Academy of Science, Sofia Tech Park, etc.)
Prioritization (via awarding of bonus points) of projects that are developing Eco-Innovation.
Eligible activities:
Performing testing, examining, measuring activities necessary for the development of product (goods and services) or process innovation;
Creating and testing prototypes and pilot lines connected with the development of product (goods and services) or process innovation.
Investment costs (acquisition of long-term tangible assets and long-term intangible assets);
Salaries for personnel performing R&D;
Depreciation costs;
Cost for external services;
Cost for materials and consumables.
Minimum amount of the grant: 100 000 BGN
Maximum amount of the grant: micro and small – 500 000 BGN, medium – 500 000 BGN, large enterprises - 1 000 000 BGN.
Date of announcement: 28 June 2017
Deadline for application: 26 September 2017
Status: 364 project proposals in assessment.
Eligible applicants/activities Eligible costs
PA 1 “Technological Development and Innovation” – general overview of all launched and planned grant schemes
Total budget under PA 1 - 295 282 552 euro
Launched grant schemes Grant schemes 2018 – 2020
- Support for Introducing Innovation in Enterprises (59,9 mEUR, incl. overcontracting)
- Support for Development of Innovation by Startups(15,6 mEUR, incl. overcontracting)
- Phase 2 of the Sofia Tech Park Project (6,3 mEUR)
- Support for the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria (4,5 mEUR)
- Development of Product and Process Innovation(35 mEUR)
- Enhancing Introduction of Innovations in Enterprises (55
mEUR+ savings from launched schemes: currently 1,1 mEUR)
- Support for the Development of Innovative Clusters (15,3 mEUR)
- Upgrading and Development of Sofia Tech Park (20,2 mEUR)
- Support to Promote Cooperation for Innovation between Business and
Scientific Organizations (12,7 mEUR)
Financial instruments under PA 1 - 60 mEUR
Implementation of the CLLD approach under PA1 - 19 mEUR
Main purpose: Providing focused support to Bulgarian SMEs to promote the implementation of energy
efficiency measures in order to achieve sustainable growth and competitiveness of the economy.
Budget (incl. overcontracting): approx. 168,8 mEUR (330,1 million BGN)
Grant Scheme “Energy Efficiency for SMEs”
Eligible applicants:
Micro, small and medium enterprises.
The applicants must have at least three completed financial years (2013, 2014 and 2015
Eligible activities:
Investment in implementation of energy efficiency measures included in the energy audit;
Introduction of EN ISO 50001 (Energy Management Systems).
Development of energy audit.
Acquisition of long-term tangible assets (incl. specialized transport vehicles);
Acquisition of long-term intangible assets (incl. specialized transport vehicles);
Cost for construction and repair works.
Cost for consultancy services (energy audit, EN ISO 50001, investment project, etc.)
Minimum amount of the grant: 50 000 BGN
Maximum amount of the grant: 1 500 000 BGN
Date of announcement: 14 May 2016
Deadline for application: 28 October 2016
Status: 431 project proposals supported.
Eligible applicants/activities Eligible costs
Main purpose: Providing focused support to Bulgarian large enterprises to promote the implementation of
energy efficiency measures in order to achieve sustainable growth and competitiveness of the economy.
Budget : 50 mEUR (97,8 million BGN)
Grant Scheme “Increasing the Energy Efficiency in Large Enterprises”
Eligible applicants:
Large enterprises.
The applicants must have at least three completed financial years (2013, 2014 and 2015
Eligible activities:
Investment in implementation of energy efficiency measures included in the energy audit;
Introduction of EN ISO 50001 (Energy Management Systems).
Development of energy audit.
Acquisition of long-term tangible assets (incl. specialized transport vehicles);
Acquisition of long-term intangible assets (incl. specialized transport vehicles);
Cost for construction and repair works.
Cost for consultancy services (energy audit, EN ISO 50001, investment project, etc.)
Minimum amount of the grant: 500 000 BGN
Maximum amount of the grant: 2 500 000 BGN
Date of announcement: 18 January 2017
Deadline for application: 19 May 2016
Status: 50 project proposals supported.
Eligible applicants/activities Eligible costs
Main purpose: Improvement of the resource efficiency of enterprises through the implementation of new
solutions, techniques and methods.
Budget : approx. 36,6 mEUR (71.6 million BGN)
Grant Scheme Support for pilot and demonstration initiatives for the effective use of resources”
Eligible applicants:
SMEs within sector C "Manufacturing" according to the Classification of Economic Activities (NACE-2008);
The applicants must have at least three completed financial years (2014, 2015 and 2016)
Eligible partners: SMEs with at least three completed years within sectors of Manufacturing, Collection, discharge and treatment of waste water and Collection and disposal of waste; recycling of materials.
Eligible activities:
Element A "Implementation" (mandatory)
Element B "Consulting services" (optional)
Element C "Other investments, services and multiplication of results (mandatory)
Costs for machinery, facilities, equipment representing fixed tangible assets;
Costs for fixed intangible assets;
Costs for consulting services of engineering and technical nature;
Other investments, services and multiplication of results"
Minimum amount of the grant: 200 000 BGN
Maximum amount of the grant: micro– 500 000 BGN, small – 1 000 000 BGN, medium enterprises - 1 500 000 BGN.
Date of announcement: 21 November 2017
Deadline for application: 23 April 2018
Status: opened for application
Eligible applicants/activities Eligible costs
PA 3 “Energy and Resource Efficiency”- general overview of all launched and planned
grant schemes
Total Budget under PA 3 - 310,686,632 EUR
Launched grant schemes Grant schemes 2018 – 2020
- Energy Efficiency for SMEs- (90 mEUR +78,8 mEUR
overcontracting)
- Increasing the Energy Efficiency in Large Enterprises (50 mEUR)
- Support for Energy Efficiency in SMES (12
mEUR + savings from launched schemes:
currently 1.32 mEUR)- Support of the Activity of the Sustainable
Energy Development Agency (4 mEUR)
- Support for Pilot and Demonstration Initiatives for the Effective Use of
Resources- (36,6 mEUR)
Financial instruments under PA 3 – 40 mEUR