With a budget of € 15 million OP "Innovation and Competitiveness" 2014-2020 finances 16 multi-fund local development strategies
Today, November 30, 2016, at an official ceremony in the Granite Hall of the Council of Ministers, were awarded arrangements for the execution of multi-local development strategies. The agreements were handed by the Prime Minister in resignation Boyko Borisov, in the presence of the Minister of the economy in resignation Bozhidar Loukarsky, the Minister of the agriculture and food in resignation Dessislava Taneva and the Minister of labour and social policy in resignation Zornitsa Rousinova, as well as representatives of the Managing Authorities of the programmes, participating with funding in the strategies.
With funding from the Operational Programme "Innovation and Competitiveness" 2014-2020 /OPIC/ 16 multi-fund local development strategies have been approved with a total budget of € 15 226 234. The allocated funds are for the implementation of projects on the territory of the Local Leader Groups through the approved local development strategies under Priority Axis 1"Technology development and innovation" with approved budget of € 2 095 808 and/or under Priority Axis 2 "Entrepreneurship and capacity for growth of SMEs“ with approved budget of € 13 130 425.
Regarding the selection of measures/ operations 8 of the approved local development strategies include for implementation activities under the both Priority Axes and 8 of the approved local development strategies include for implementation activities solely under Priority Axis 2 "Entrepreneurship and capacity for growth of SMEs“.
The objective of the support is increasing the innovation activity of the enterprises within the thematic areas of the National Innovation Strategy for smart specialization through the development and/ or implementation of innovations from and on these territories, as well as encouraging the private investments in research and innovation and enhancing the competitiveness of local economies and creating opportunities for establishing of local business, incl. through diversification and alternative activities. The purpose is to improve the survival rate of the enterprises, including by promoting the entrepreneurship in order to create new sustainable enterprises, that will provide employment to the local population and opportunities for increasing their income as well as increasing the productivity and export potential of the enterprises in these territories. The objectives are to improve the production processes, increasing the production capacity and enhancing the export potential of the enterprises in these territories.
The main challenges related to the implementation of the Community-led local development approach in the 2014-2020 programming period, affect the need of employment creation (incl. alternative employment) and use of the local potential for growth, aiming to improve the quality of life and the incomes of the local population. The enterprises in these territories are a key source for job creation, new business ideas, a source of entrepreneurial skills and innovation. In this aspect, the efforts for establishment of competitive and sustainable economy are directly dependent on supporting the development of the enterprises in these territories for overcoming the identified by the local leader groups expressed negative processes in terms of opportunities for development.
