EU Funds for Business in Bulgaria
Step by step
How to apply for EU-backed business finance in Bulgaria
Find a suitable grant or financial instrument under Bulgaria’s Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises programme, then apply through the relevant channel.
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Check the programme
Use the national EU funds portal to find programme calls, budgets and progress. Grant calls under the Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises programme are announced by the Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation.
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Choose a funding route
Choose between grants and financial instruments, including loans, guarantees and equity. The Fund Manager of Financial Instruments in Bulgaria selects the partner banks and fund managers for the financial instruments.
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Apply through the relevant channel
Apply for loans, guarantees or equity through the partner banks and fund managers selected by the Fund Manager of Financial Instruments in Bulgaria. For a grant, check the relevant call before applying.
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Check project timing
Under EU state aid rules, work on a project usually must not start before you apply. Check the call before committing money.
Cohesion funds 2021–2027
Source: European Commission: Outcome of 2021–2027 cohesion policy programming, country fiches1
The money is spent through nine national programmes and twelve cross-border Interreg programmes, on innovation, the green transition, transport, social policy and the coal regions.1
Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises
The programme is run by the Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation, formed in May 2026 from the Ministry of Innovation and Growth and the Ministry of e-Government, and paid for by the European Regional Development Fund. It supports innovation, research and development, digitalisation and the move to a circular, low-carbon economy.3,9
| Fund | Budget | For |
|---|---|---|
| Entrepreneurship funds, from concept to growth | €104.5 m in three funds | Equity of up to €3 m for fast-growing companies |
| Fund for Digitalisation | €40.25 m | Equity of up to €5 m for Industry 4.0 projects |
| Fund for Strategic Technologies and Defence | €30 m | Equity for strategic and dual-use technologies |
| Innovation in Enterprises Fund | €32.17 m | Equity of up to €1 m for early-stage innovators |
| Debt instruments for digitalisation, industrial parks and the circular economy | Up to €257 m, plus grants | Loans, leasing and guarantees through banks |
Source: Fund Manager of Financial Instruments in Bulgaria: Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises Programme2
The financial instruments are managed by the Fund Manager of Financial Instruments in Bulgaria and are expected to bring in at least €208 million of private money.2
Recovery and Resilience Plan
- Grants of €6.17 billion; 57.5% for climate goals and 23.1% for the digital transition.
- The EU paid €896 million for the fourth payment request in 2026.
- All reforms and investments had to be finished by 31 August 2026, and the final request, worth almost €1.7 billion, filed by 30 September 2026.
- The Commission will make all payments by 31 December 2026.
Source: European Commission: Bulgaria’s recovery and resilience plan; European Commission: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark and Slovenia receive RRF payments; Economic.bg: Bulgaria has one month to request €1.7 billion from the fifth RRF payment4,5,6
How to apply
- Grant calls under the programme are announced by the Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation as managing authority; the national EU funds portal shows each programme’s calls, budget and progress.
- Loans, guarantees and equity are applied for through the partner banks and fund managers selected by the Fund Manager of Financial Instruments.
Source: Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation: Business financial support; EU Funds in Bulgaria: Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises programme profile; Fund Manager of Financial Instruments in Bulgaria: Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises Programme3,8,2
Under EU state aid rules, work on a project usually must not start before you apply, so check the call before you commit money.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much EU cohesion funding does Bulgaria receive for 2021–2027?
Bulgaria receives €10.8 billion in EU cohesion funding for 2021–2027. It is spent through nine national programmes and twelve cross-border Interreg programmes, supporting innovation, the green transition, transport, social policy and the coal regions.
How much does Bulgaria receive from the Recovery and Resilience Plan, and what were the completion deadlines?
Bulgaria’s Recovery and Resilience Plan provides €6.17 billion in grants. Reforms and investments had to be completed by 31 August 2026, the final request worth almost €1.7 billion had to be filed by 30 September 2026, and the Commission will make all payments by 31 December 2026.
Which EU cohesion fund has the largest allocation in Bulgaria for 2021–2027?
The European Regional Development Fund has the largest allocation in Bulgaria, at €5.64 billion for 2021–2027. The other allocations are €2.63 billion for the Social Fund Plus, €1.30 billion for the Just Transition Fund, €1.24 billion for the Cohesion Fund and €0.14 billion for Interreg.
What financial instruments are available to companies under Bulgaria’s Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises programme?
Bulgaria’s Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises programme has €633.6 million for financial instruments and combined grants for companies. It offers equity funds and debt instruments for digitalisation, industrial parks and the circular economy, with debt instruments of up to €257 million plus grants; the instruments are expected to attract at least €208 million in private money.
Sources
- European Commission: Outcome of 2021–2027 cohesion policy programming, country fiches (PDF)
- Fund Manager of Financial Instruments in Bulgaria: Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises Programme
- Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation: Business financial support
- European Commission: Bulgaria’s recovery and resilience plan
- European Commission: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark and Slovenia receive RRF payments (PDF)
- Economic.bg: Bulgaria has one month to request €1.7 billion from the fifth RRF payment
- European Commission: Outcome of 2021–2027 cohesion policy programming, part 1 (PDF)
- EU Funds in Bulgaria: Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises programme profile
- Strategy.bg: Rules of the Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation, public consultation (May 2026, in Bulgarian)
Figures checked 13 October 2026. Prepared by InvestBulgaria for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
