About EEN
Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) is a European information and advisory network with a global reach that supports the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The Network enhances the innovation and technological capacity of businesses and facilitates their entry into international markets. It supports companies in identifying suitable international business, technology, and research partners, explores funding opportunities, and provides expert advisory services, including support for participation in European programmes such as Horizon Europe.
Enterprise Europe Network also increases companies’ awareness of European Union policies and helps them navigate EU legislation, standards, and product compliance requirements.
Companies with international ambitions from all sectors can benefit from expertise across a wide range of areas, including innovation, digitalisation, sustainability, technology transfer, and intellectual property protection.
Our Mission
To support small and medium-sized enterprises in making the most of the business and innovation opportunities offered by the European Union’s Single Market and beyond.
Are you looking for international partners but don’t know where to start? Do you want to modernise your activities but lack access to fresh ideas? Do you need funding but require guidance on the various European and national programmes?
The Enterprise Europe Network can help. #EENCanHelp
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combined information and client-centric advisory services
Enterprise Europe Network - Bulgaria
In the country, the Network brings together 9 organizations located in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Stara Zagora, Ruse, Gabrovo, and Blagoevgrad.
Its national coordinator is the Bulgarian Industrial Association.
Established in 1980, Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) is among the biggest national business representative organizations in Bulgaria. The main business support services of BIA are its trainings for project development for funding by the European Innovation Council, as well as its advisory assistance for assessment of the proposal success potential and the delivery of improvement recommendations for its content.
The organization supports for more than 40 years the access of SMEs to international markets, consulting them in their expansion to third countries, and also assists them with professional advices in the domain of financing and investor attraction. BIA organizes around 15 export capacity building events for SMEs and is a co-organizer of 10+ brokerage (B2B) events annually, part of which in collaboration with the Inter Expo Center. BIA is the coordinator of an Erasmus+ project in the domain of open innovation and industry 4.0 being awarded by the program for best project implementation. The organization launches the first Bulgarian open innovation platform.
Joint Innovation Centre (JiC-BAS) is the coordination unit of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) for its policy implementation in the domain of innovations, intellectual property, technology transfer and R&D results’ commercialization. The organization provides advisory support on access to finance, entrepreneurship (BAS spin-offs), internationalization, renewable energy sources and energy storage, hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, clean technologies, circular and carbon-neutral economy.
JiC-BAS is a key partner in the Centre of Competence “HITMOBIL – Technologies and systems for Generation, Storage and Consumption of Clean Energy” (OP “Science and Education for Smart Growth”, co-funded by the EU via ERDF) and partner both in the “Energy Storage and Hydrogen Energetics” National R&D Infrastructure and in the BalkanMed INNOVA action (Balkan-Mediterranean Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, INTERREG). The organization partners with the Bulgarian SME Promotion Agency for the creation of more favourable innovation environment and result maximization of the “science-business” relations. In 2021 they piloted together the “Science for Business” forum, scheduled to occur on annual basis.
The Renewable Energy Sources Cluster (RES Cluster) is the first cluster in Bulgaria dedicated to promoting green energy production and clean technologies. The organization provides advisory support in the following areas: green innovations, resource efficiency, relevant national and European regulations and requirements, green transition policies, and more. The cluster’s mission is to assist companies both in their green growth, market access, and the development of innovative products, processes, and technologies in the renewable energy sector (RES), as well as in establishing international partnerships in areas related to the twin transition, such as mechatronics, robotics, and automation.
A flagship initiative of RES Cluster is the innovative demonstration center ResInTech®, designed for the generation and internal balancing of a 100% green electricity mix. Its aim is to provide companies with the opportunity to demonstrate and promote their innovative green energy solutions and services to the public, while also serving as a hands-on laboratory for young professionals and university graduates, helping them acquire practical skills and expertise in line with the latest technological trends.
In 2021, the cluster was selected to participate in the “Towards Green Transition” Facility of the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), through which it received expert support to strengthen its capacity to assist SMEs in transforming their business models and addressing investment challenges.
Since January 2022, RES Cluster has been a part of Enterprise Europe Network – Bulgaria, functioning as a center of expertise in policy and SME support in the fields of sustainable development and smart and green technologies. The cluster also serves as a sustainability advisor, as well as a communication champion and lead partner for communications within the Network.
The Business Support Centre for Small and Medium Enterprises (BSC SME), based in Ruse, is a leading organisation in Bulgaria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. With more than 30 years of experience, it stands among the country’s most established NGOs driving regional economic growth and empowering SMEs to innovate, scale, and thrive. As pioneers in building the foundations of Bulgaria’s modern innovation landscape, its team created and managed the country’s first business incubator, along with a virtual incubator and a specialized incubator for young future entrepreneurs. The centre also introduced the first non-bank regional financial instruments supporting start-ups and SMEs – including start-up credit lines, equipment leasing programs, and a regional guarantee fund.
BSC SME’s expertise extends across key economic sectors such as tourism, the creative industries, and social entrepreneurship. Over the years, the centre has developed strategic documents that shape regional and national economic policy. It has been an Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) node since its establishment in 2008 and provides free advisory services to businesses as well as offering hands-on support to foreign investors entering the Bulgarian market. BSC SME regularly hosts trainings, workshops, and events on forward-looking topics – innovation, digital transformation, sustainability, renewable energy, intellectual property and data protection, and more. Driven by experience and inspired by progress, its experts help businesses unlock their potential and build a competitive future.
Marine Cluster Bulgaria (MCB) is an organization that brings together industry, research, and education stakeholders within the blue economy with the aim of enhancing the sector’s competitiveness and sustainability. Through the deployment of innovation, digitalisation, training, and skills development, the Cluster supports the creation of a favourable business environment and the introduction of innovative tools and digital solutions across priority areas. MCB aligns with the EU’s long-term strategic vision for a climate-neutral economy and initiatives for cleaner waterborne transport. The organisation has contributed to the expansion of Bulgaria’s Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialisation (IS3) by incorporating blue growth technologies under the priority area “Mechatronics and Clean Technologies.”
MCB regularly organises regional and international conferences, including its key annual initiative “Blue Careers Days”, which promotes career opportunities for young people in the blue economy and supports its members in responding to emerging industrial challenges and trends (Industry 4.0, digital transformation). The organisation acts as a national hub under the support mechanism of the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea (CMA), facilitating the implementation of the Black Sea Assistance Mechanism (BSAM) objectives at national level. It also serves as a co-location centre for the Black Sea within EIT Water – a new Knowledge and Innovation Community – strengthening regional cooperation and innovation across Europe. MCB is a member of the European Network of Maritime Clusters (ENMC) and the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), ensuring strong integration into European industrial and innovation ecosystems. The Cluster supports project development and actively engages stakeholders at national and regional levels, contributing to sustainable development and the efficient management of marine resources.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Stara Zagora is a leading business support organization in the South-East Region of Bulgaria. It represents the economic interests of SMEs from the region and provides services to businesses. The Chamber has key expertise in the field of energy efficiency management, “smart” energy and RES. It has been nominated by the Eurochambers as one of the three leading chambers in Europe in this field. The Chamber also provides specialized services in the field of business cooperation, access to financing, CE-marking, ISO standards and circular economy. The Chamber in Stara Zagora is the first Bulgarian coordinator of a project under the Erasmus for young entrepreneurs program.
CCI – Stara Zagora is a co-founder of the Cluster Technologies for a Clean Environment, of the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) Zagore and is a partner in the SynGReDiT project, co-financed under the DIGITAL program to provide consulting to SMEs in the South-East region related to digitalization and access to funding in the fields of mechatronics, clean technology and life and health science, incl. intelligent agriculture, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. The Chamber is also an associate member of the Competence Center “Intelligent Mechatronic, Eco- and Energy-Saving Systems and Technologies” at the Technical University – Gabrovo (Operational Program “Science and Education for Intelligent Growth”), focused on new and emerging technologies.
Plovdiv Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a leading business support organization in the South-Central Region of Bulgaria. It delivers various business services and consultations related to import/export procedures, customs legislation, consultations regarding administrative procedures and legal environment for business, markets’ and partners’ searches, innovations. The Chamber is a recognizable partner in a number of international cooperation projects and in different local initiatives in favour of the business and society. It’s a founder and a member of various non-profit organizations for support of tourism, local foods, wine and culture, regional development.
The Chamber actively organizes business cooperation events and business missions abroad, it hosts foreign business delegations, organizes seminars and trainings in the domains of financing, innovations, sustainable economy, digitalization, health and safety working conditions. It is a partner of the International Fair Plovdiv, where it organizes foreign and Bulgarian group participations. The Chamber works in a fruitful cooperation with Trakia Economic Zone and the local authority and supports the entrance of foreign investors, it promotes Plovdiv as an investment destination in its international participations and partnerships and assists for the building of region’s image as a leading industrial center.
Cluster of Mechatronics and Automation (CMA) is a leading cluster in Bulgaria in the fields of mechatronics, automation, and robotics, bringing together high-tech companies that develop and implement integrated solutions based on the interaction between mechanics, electronics, and software, in line with the principles of Industry 4.0/5.0. Its activities are based on the sharing of resources to stimulate smart growth. CMA supports the development of high-tech, export-oriented products, services, technologies, and factories of the future (digital control, virtual factories, etc.). The organization has been awarded a Bronze Label for its achievements in cluster management.
CMA is focused on the internationalisation of businesses in the fields of digital transformation, artificial intelligence, clean technologies, circular economy, and sustainable development. Its members develop patented equipment and products exported to Germany, France, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Poland, Serbia, Croatia, Turkey, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, India, the USA, Brazil, and Mexico.
The importance of this domain and CMA’s achievements were recognised by the Ministry of Economy through the establishment of “Mechatronics and Clean Technologies” as a standalone priority area in Bulgaria’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3 2021–2027).
With the support of EISMEA and DG GROW, CMA was invited to join the Skills Expert Group within the Enterprise Europe Network, which aims to develop policy recommendations and actions to address the skills needs of EU SMEs and enhance their competitiveness on the global market.
The Center supports SMEs in their digital transformation, green transition, and adoption of the circular economy model. Its goal is to assist SMEs in the region with their digital transition toward innovation and competitiveness in the global market and to support local government in providing better digital services and promoting energy-efficient and environmentally focused regional development. Attracting foreign direct investment and supporting internationalization are also among the organization’s priorities. In 2024, RIC officially became the coordinator of the European Digital Innovation Hub for North Central Bulgaria, with a focus on artificial intelligence. The center is a member of ERRIN, I4MS, BESCO, and the European Cluster Collaboration Platform.
Its members include representatives of the business community (innovative enterprises, including startups, operating in the fields of information and communication technologies and mechatronics), the academic and research community (Technical University of Gabrovo), and regional government bodies (Gabrovo Municipality and the Gabrovo Regional Administration). The center’s key competencies lie in the following sectors: manufacturing of machinery and equipment, education, research and development in the fields of sensor systems, artificial intelligence, software systems, the Internet of Things, robotics, and others.
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Our services are adapted to SMEs, but they are also available to all the other companies, universities and research centers.
EEN starts in 2008 as an initiative of the Directorate-General “Enterprise and Industry” of the European Commission. The member organizations include commercial and industrial chambers, technological centers, research institutes, development agencies and non-government organizations. Most of them contact the local businesses for a long time. They know the strengths and necessities of their clients and are familiar with the EU. As EEN members these organizations have access to massive data bases for new technologies and business contacts with the help of which they can assist for the finding of different partners in all countries within the Network.
EEN is co-financed via the framework programmes of the EU for competitiveness of the small and medium enterprises and for research (Single Market Programme – COSME).