Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises Programme (PKIP)
Funds Bulgarian enterprises to innovate, digitize, green operations, and strengthen international competitiveness.
The Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises Programme 2021-2027, usually called PKIP, is the Bulgarian Ministry of Innovation and Growth's main ERDF-backed programme for enterprise competitiveness. It sits inside the ministry's wider economic agenda and is built around Bulgarian SMEs rather than individuals or foreign applicants. PKIP covers innovation development, SME internationalisation, green technologies, energy efficiency, digitalisation, and the circular economy transition. The programme is organised across 18 procedure families under six priority axes, and applications are submitted through the ISUN 2020 platform with a qualified electronic signature. The latest amendment was approved in December 2025, and active calls are tracked through the procedures news area and the indicative annual work programme. The programme is best read as a rolling set of procedure pages rather than a single open call. Firms that want to use it need to watch the individual procedures closely, match the project to the relevant priority axis, and be ready to work in Bulgarian administrative process rather than a general-purpose commercial grant portal.
Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.
Funds Bulgarian defense and dual-use manufacturers — from micro to large enterprises — acquiring equipment, software, and IP to expand defense production capacity under the PKIP programme.
Funds Bulgarian enterprises conducting R&D across five deep-tech thematic areas under the EU-backed Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises Programme.
Funds Bulgarian SMEs adopting Industry 4.0 technologies including AI, robotics, IoT, and cybersecurity systems under the EU-backed PKIP programme.
Funds Bulgarian SMEs implementing product or process innovations developed through prior R&D under the EU-backed PKIP programme.
Funds Bulgarian SMEs implementing new or improved products, services, or business processes through grants under the EU-backed PKIP programme.