New Production Models for SMEs – Grant Support 2026

Expected start: January 2026

A call for grant support under the “Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises” Program 2021–2027 (CIP) is upcoming. The procedure will fund investments in machinery, equipment, software, patents, industrial designs, and other resources necessary for introducing “new models” of production, processes, products, or services.

Who Can Apply

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) registered under the Commercial Act or the Cooperatives Act, or equivalent legal entities in an EU/EEA member state, that:

• Were registered no later than 31.12.2022

• Have achieved average annual net sales revenues for 2022, 2023, and 2024 as follows:

  • Micro enterprises: ≥ BGN 100,000

  • Small enterprises: ≥ BGN 300,000

  • Medium enterprises: ≥ BGN 1,000,000

What Will Be Funded

Projects must introduce at least one “new model” related to:

1. New Product Model (Goods and/or Services)

   • New goods or services for the enterprise, or

   • Significant improvement of existing goods or services.

   • A “significant improvement” means a notable difference in quality, technical parameters, reliability, efficiency, accessibility, convenience, or usability.

2. New Process Model (Business Processes)

   • A new business process for the enterprise, or

   • Significant improvement of an existing process by adding or modifying functions.

   • This includes production processes, engineering, technical testing, analysis, and certification.

Important: The new model must be implemented in practice within the enterprise – as a real product, service, or process, not just as a concept or prototype.

Eligible project costs:

• Purchase of machinery, equipment, and facilities (tangible assets)

• Acquisition of software, patents, utility models, industrial designs, and licenses (intangible assets)

Financial Parameters

• Total procedure budget: BGN 188,368,368 (€96,311,217.23)

• Target budget for Northern Less Developed Regions (NW, NC, NE): BGN 90,000,000 (€46,016,269.31)

Grant per project:

• Minimum: €25,000

• Maximum: €250,000 for micro and small enterprises; €400,000 for medium enterprises

Maximum funding relative to revenues:

• Micro enterprises: 100% of average annual net sales (2022–2024)

• Small enterprises: 60%

• Medium enterprises: 25%

Funding rate by scheme:

• de minimis: 70% for all eligible enterprises

• Regional Investment Aid: varies by enterprise size and region (detailed rates by region)

Project duration

up to 12 months

How to Apply

Project proposals must be submitted electronically via ISUN 2020 – the Information System for EU Funds Management and Monitoring in Bulgaria.

Who Finances

The procedure is funded under the “Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises” Program 2021–2027, procedure “New Production Models by SMEs.”

Expected Timeline

The procedure will be open for public consultation and is expected to start January 2026.