Operational Programme

Operational Programme "Innovation and Competitiveness" 2014-2020 (OPIC) is the main program document at national level outlining the support for the Bulgarian business from the European structural and investment funds for the period 2014-2020

OPIC is focused at addressing the needs, overcoming the challenges and seizing the opportunities for development of the Bulgarian economy. The measures included in the program aim to contribute complexly for the establishment of sustainable, long-term competitive advantages of Bulgarian enterprises and accelerate the transition to a knowledge-based economy. The support is focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, capacity growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), energy and resource efficiency of the businesses.

The total budget of OPIC 2014-2020 is EUR 1.27 billion. The funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) exceeds EUR 1,079 billion and the national co-financing amounts to over EUR 191 mln. (15% of the budget).

Managing Authority: Directorate General "European Funds for Competitiveness" at the Ministry of Economy.

The programme resource is divided into five priority axes:

Priority Axis 1 "Technological development and innovation"

Priority Axis 2 "Entrepreneurship and capacity for growth of SMEs"

Priority Axis 3 "Energy and resource efficiency of the enterprises"

Priority Axis 4 "Removing the obstacles in the security of gas supply"

Priority 5 "Technical Assistance"

Expected results from the implementation of OPIC:

•     supporting more than 7,000 enterprises;
•     mobilizing more than EUR 1 bln. private investments;
•     increasing the share of innovative enterprises;
•     increasing the productivity of SMEs;
•     contribution to reducing the energy intensity of the economy.