Updated last 18.06.2025
The programme’s two main priorities are: Sustainable development of Bulgaria’s research, development, and innovation ecosystem.; Digital transformation of the public sector.
How is the program’s budget distributed?
Priority 1: Sustainable development of Bulgaria’s research, development, and innovation ecosystem
The focus of actions is on strengthening the capacity of scientific organizations and higher education institutions; enhancing their cooperation with industry; shortening the path from research to innovation; implementing, transferring technologies and knowledge and their market realization; creating conditions for internationalization and increasing the share of R&D employment in the public and private sectors; creating and sharing data for scientific research and innovation; overcoming regional imbalances by supporting businesses in less developed regions to facilitate access to R&D.
Priority 2: Digital transformation of the public sector
Data created in the public, private, scientific, and non-governmental sectors is becoming a key asset for the development of society. They form the backbone of a data-based paradigm of governance and economy and a foundation for informed decision-making across all areas of public life. Data are an integral part of both scientific research and the creation of innovative services and products that stimulate additional investments, create jobs, improve quality of life, support environmental protection, and increase resource efficiency.
The specific objective is to harness the benefits of digitization for citizens, companies, research organizations, and public bodies (ERDF).
Priority Technical Assistance
The main objective of the procedure is to increase the efficiency of the Managing Authority (MA) and the Intermediate Bodies (IB) of the “Research, Innovation and Digitization for Smart Transformation” for the period 2021-2027, to improve the capacity of the program beneficiaries and to ensure awareness of the measures under it.
What is the size of the program budget?
Total budget: BGN 2,974,772.45, of which BGN 2,441,196.62 is from the ERDF and BGN 533,575.83 is national co-financing.
What are the ways to apply for funding?
To create and submit a project proposal for a specific procedure under PSRIDST, you must register in the UMIS system.
The system is interactive and easy to use. If you encounter any difficulties when submitting a project proposal, you can refer to the system user guide published to guide and assist users.
On the official PSRIDST website, for a specific procedure you can find information on how, to whom, and within what deadlines you can ask additional questions and seek clarifications regarding the Procedure’s Application Conditions.
What are the conditions for applying to procedures under PSRIDST?
For each procedure there are published “Application Conditions,” where you will find specific information tailored to the specifics of the chosen procedure:
- goals, indicators of the procedure;
- the total amount of non-repayable financial assistance under the procedure;
- minimum (if applicable) and maximum amount of non-repayable financial assistance for a specific project;
- co-financing rate;
- the criteria your business must meet to be eligible;
- activities eligible for funding;
- eligible and ineligible costs under the procedure;
- minimum and maximum project duration;
- applicable regime of minimum/state aid;
- the rules, criteria, and methodology by which project proposals are evaluated, both for administrative compliance and eligibility, and for the technical and financial evaluation requirements;
- the method and deadline for obtaining clarifications about the procedure.
In what timeframe can I apply for procedures under the program?
You can apply for funds under PSRIDST depending on the submission deadline for project proposals for each procedure until the end of the programme in 2027.
The evaluation of project proposals proceeds in two stages, as follows:
Stage 1
Evaluation of administrative compliance and eligibility – this evaluation addresses, for example, the following questions: have all required documents been submitted; is the project proposal correctly submitted; is the KEП (electronic signature) valid for signing; is the power of attorney for submitting the project proposal valid; does it comply with the specific eligibility criteria listed in the Application Conditions, and other aspects.
This stage also includes verification and evaluation of the realism, effectiveness, and eligibility of all planned activities and costs (whether the project proposal includes ineligible activities, ineligible and/or unrealistic costs, duplication of planned activities and/or costs).
Stage 2
Technical and financial evaluation. The technical and financial evaluation is carried out only for project proposals that have successfully passed Stage 1 administrative compliance and eligibility evaluation. At this stage, the technical capacity of the participants, the environmental effect of the project, compliance with the indicators and priorities of the procedure, partnerships, and other aspects are evaluated.