1.1. Support for the creation and commercialization of innovations in enterprises and protection of industrial property rights.

The support under this thematic group of operations will be focused on start–ups or existing enterprises with innovative potential, aiming to bridge the gap between enterprises and research institutions which will lead to improvement of the productivity of enterprises, development of new or improved products and services with high added value, as well as improvement of the production methods, processes and their penetration to new markets.
Under this priority, innovative start-ups will be supported in their initial stage of existence by integrated support, covering the variety of their needs, such as business advice and coaching, initial investments in assets and for introducing their products on the market. These interventions should result in growing number of highly innovative, yet commercially sound enterprises in the Bulgarian economy.
Companies will also be offered, on the one hand, financial support towards the costs of their R&D activities, including feasibility studies, industrial research and pre-competitive development and on the other hand, integrated support (consultations, investments, training of management and/or personnel) needed for introduction of products' or process innovations in their manufacturing and management practices. The expected result of this intervention is an increase of the number of successful R&D projects conducted by enterprises, as well as increase in overall expenditure of this sector on research and development.

In order to increase employment of researchers and highly qualified technicians in enterprises, support will be rendered to enterprises to hire PhDs and other R&D specialists for implementation of own R&D projects. In addition, with the purpose to introduce in the Bulgarian economy the most recent innovative solutions and R&D results Doctoral Programmes with strong applied potential will be supported under condition that it's future application, in case of successful result, is assured by previously signed contract with an enterprise or consortia of enterprises.
In order to assure protection of the developed innovations in Bulgarian enterprises and reseach organizations, support  for industrial property protection through national and international application and registration of patents, trade marks and designs, (including Community Trade Mark, Community Design, the Madrid Agreement and the Protocol attached, etc.) will be also provided.

1.2. Improvement of the pro-innovative infrastructure

The aim of this set of operations is to create favourable conditions for development of innovative enterprises and to strengthen the capacity of the Bulgarian research organisations to conduct applied R&D activities.
The financing will be extended to various types of Business Support Organisations that offer pro-innovative tailor-made advisory services to innovative start-ups and existing innovative enterprises. Support will be provided for the creation and/or upgrade of technology transfer centres, technology incubators, technology platforms, technology parks, etc. With respect to the specifics of each organization or institution supported, different activities will be promoted. In the case of technology transfer offices and technology incubators, the financial support may cover, for example, costs of projects related to the establishment of such institutions, as well as institutional building in existing ones, development and delivery of new services to enterprises, and networking of such institutions and of BSOs and innovative enterprises. Having in mind the specific combination of factors needed for the establishment of Technology parks, according to preliminary estimations no more than 5-6 regional centres in Bulgaria have potential for creation of such structures, among which being the biggest cities as Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna. With view to the aforementioned, preparatory activities for the establishment of the Technology parks (such as elaboration of pre-feasibility studies, technical documentation, engineering plans, etc.) will be financed prior to selecting and implementing the.Technology Parks projects.
In order to ensure the flow of innovative ideas to the economy, research organisations will be supported to acquire and/or upgrade existing applied research equipment, under the condition of a crearly indicated business demand in their particular research field, proven necessity of such equipment, and potential for wide application of the expected R&D results in the national economy. This intervention would also lead to an improvement of enterprises' access to pro-innovative services, as well as improvement of the quality of these services.
Aiming at achievement of synergetic effect of the activities of the individual actors of the innovation system, a set of related operations would be implemented, e.g. support for creation of a "national innovation network", encompassing innovative enterprises and innovation support organizations, as high–speed broadband infrastrucure will be established to link all participants in the network.

BENEFICIARIES