Deputy Minister Vitanova: Bulgaria will have a modern center for innovations in research and development for defense technologies

New over BGN 1 billion will be available for 40 urban municipalities and coal regions for renovation of blocks and modernization of health, educational and social buildings 

Bulgaria will build a modern R&D innovation centre for defence technologies and dual-use solutions. It will be located in the region of Stara Zagora and will be financed with EUR 85 million from the Regional Development Programme 2021-2027 (RDP 2021-2027) managed by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW). This became clear during the 9th meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Programme, which took place in Sofia and was chaired by the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works and Head of the Managing Authority of the Programme, Yura Vitanova. The idea is to conduct research and develop innovative solutions and technologies, including for extracting valuable materials from coal fields. A training centre will also be set up to train defence engineers. Digitalisation and digital technologies will also be developed, as well as the deployment of artificial intelligence in the defence sector. This will also create new jobs directly related to the development of the region. The Centre is among the EU’s priority objectives and policies to strengthen defence security in the Member States. “We are in an extremely intense period of implementation of the Programme in order to overcome and make up for the missed delay since the beginning of the programming period,” said Deputy Minister Vitanova. She informed that, to date, the first contracts under three of the main priorities of the 2021-2027 Development of Regions Programme have been signed.

Under Priority 1 ‘Integrated urban development’, 51 contracts were concluded for a total amount of BGN 703 million. 44 concepts for integrated territorial investments were approved for almost BGN 2 billion under Priority 2 ‘Integrated territorial development of regions’, which finances infrastructure projects in 40 urban municipalities. A second phase for the submission of project proposals under the measure ‘Support for integrated urban development in 40 urban municipalities – 2’ will also be announced by the end of the year, after the committee members have approved the methodology under which it will be implemented. The resource is BGN 983 million, which will finance four measures: energy efficiency of multi-apartment buildings, modernisation of educational, health and social infrastructure, and housing.

Deputy Minister Vitanova reported that in the most advanced phase of implementation is the Just Transition Fund. 129 multi-family residential buildings will be renovated with BGN 190 million, for which public contracts for the selection of contractors have already been announced. The expectations are to lead to an over-negotiation of the resource under the measure, which will allow contracts to be concluded for the renovation of blocks from the reserve list under the procedure for multi-family residential buildings in the three coal regions and the adjacent 10 municipalities. This includes 175 project proposals for a total amount of €123 million. The program for diversification of small and medium-sized businesses is also ahead of the final.

“The assessment of the construction of logistic parks in the districts of Stara Zagora, Kyustendil and Pernik is also extremely fast-tracked,” the Deputy Regional Minister also reported.

 Jura Vitanova informed the members of the Committee that three more procedures will be announced by the end of the year, which will support the construction of photovoltaic systems, socio-economic transformation and development of energy communities. "We will continue to work in full mobilisation mode to be able to implement all the measures identified. It is important to have one on the part of the municipalities in order to implement the objectives and indicators of the Programme in the most effective way. We plan to invest nearly BGN 920 million next year in order to minimize all risks of losing funds,” said Deputy Minister Vitanova. The members of the Monitoring Committee decided to invest more than BGN 263 million from the Programme in the development of the hydrogen industry in the municipality of Stara Zagora. The funds are intended for the design and construction of a complex for the production of green hydrogen, hydrogen charging stations, the supply of new hydrogen vehicles and hydrogen trailers for the supply of hydrogen. Schools in the region will also benefit from the measure, which will provide school buses powered by hydrogen. At present, 30% or just over BGN 1.881 billion has been contracted from the budget of the RDP 2021-2027. BGN 354 million has been paid to the beneficiaries, which accounts for 5% of the total budget of the programme, and BGN 154 million has been verified by the Commission, Asya Stankova, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Strategic Planning and Regional Development Programmes, reported during the meeting. She added that under Priority 1, which finances the ten largest Bulgarian cities, 64 projects worth BGN 809 million have been submitted, of which 51 projects worth BGN 703 million have been evaluated. Under the second priority for 40 urban municipalities, with a resource of BGN 1.553 billion, 35 projects worth BGN 1.233 billion have been submitted. 11 projects worth BGN 452 million have been signed and another 22 projects have been approved and contracts have yet to be concluded for their implementation. Contracts have also been concluded for the implementation of strategic projects that will provide modern, modern and environmentally friendly transport for citizens in seven Bulgarian municipalities. Under them, BGN 182 million will be invested in cleaner, safer and affordable public transport in the municipalities of Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo, Varna, Blagoevgrad, Plovdiv, Vidin and Ruse.

Mr Andreas von Bush and Jörg Lakenbauer from DG REGIO, mayors of municipalities, experts from various ministries, state organisations, the non-governmental sector, etc. took part in the meeting.