Expected start of first procedure under OPIC in the late March
24.03.2015

"OP" Competitiveness and Innovation "is the main program document at the national level, which outlines the assistance of Bulgarian business investment from EU Structural Funds for the period 2014 - 2020 r". The total budget of the program is € 1,390,135,930, as of 85% of them are financed by the European Regional Development Fund and 15% - national co-financing.

"The resources of the operational program is divided into five priority axes. The main focus of the program is focused on innovation and small and medium enterprises. Within Priority Axis 1 "Technological development and innovation" support for innovation by funding it amounted to 250 mln. Euros. Priority 2 Entrepreneurship and capacity for growth of SMEs is a resource of 593 million. Euros and the budget of priority axis 3 "Energy and resource efficiency" is 264 mln. Euro. "Said Minister Lukarski." Under Priority Axis 4 provided removing obstacles in the field of security of gas supply and support the development of the territory of Bulgaria of intersystem gas connection Bulgaria - Serbia ". Priority Axis 5 Technical Assistance to support the effective and efficient implementation of the activities of OPIC.

Already being prepared for announcement of the first procedure OPIC 2, which will be to improve the productive capacity of SMEs. It is expected to start in late March. Developed and approved by the Monitoring Committee criteria and methodology for project selection procedure. We are preparing the application guidelines document pack them. Is also expected for the first procedure documents can be made entirely electronically, said Ivelina Peneva, Acting Deputy Director of the General Directorate "European Funds for Competitiveness" (DG EFC).

The main expected results of the implementation of OPIC are to be supported more than 9000 enterprises through grants and financial instruments to mobilize more than 1 billion. Euros of private investment to increase the share of innovative enterprises, to increase the productivity of SMEs to contribute to reducing the energy intensity of the economy.

Source: Ministry of Economy