Project No. DFPO-1.007 "Implementation of Innovative Combined Measures to Support Innovation and Technological Development and Promote the Internationalization of Bulgarian SMEs through Exchange of Knowledge and Experience between Norway and Bulgaria"
Beneficiary: Executive Agency for Promotion of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (EA SMEs)
Partner: Innovation Norway
Funding: "Fund for Bilateral Relations" through the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism (EEA and Norway Grants) 2014-2021
Start Date: July 2023
Implementation Period: 23 months
Objective:
Increase the capacity and competence of the EA SMEs, contributing to the implementation of innovative combined measures to support the innovation system and technological development and promote the internationalization of Bulgarian SMEs.
organize joint events for expert consultations, training, knowledge exchange, provision of know-how, and best practices; develop innovative schemes and tools for monitoring and supporting the technological development of emerging companies in Bulgaria; create and expand a transnational interdisciplinary partnership network for cooperation to promote the internationalization of Bulgarian SMEs. Activities:
Exchange of best practices for planning, monitoring, and implementing measures (schemes and tools) to support innovation and technological development of existing and emerging Bulgarian SMEs.
Provide expert consultations to identify measures to strengthen the capacity of EA SMEs in supporting the promotion of SME internationalization.
Expected Results: Activity 1
Monitoring the effectiveness of already implemented measures by EA SMEs to support innovation and technological development of SMEs; Development of methodological tools to support the selection and monitoring of projects and results of innovative companies in Bulgaria; Preparation of a comparative study of the Bulgarian innovation system to identify opportunities to address innovation challenges and improve innovation capacity. Expected Results: Activity 2
Review and assessment of the impact of already implemented measures by EA SMEs to promote SME internationalization in Bulgaria; Identification of measures to strengthen the capacity of EA SMEs to promote SME internationalization; Organizing study visits to partner Innovation Norway for exchanging experiences regarding planning, monitoring, and implementing measures to promote the internationalization of Bulgarian SMEs.