EEA & Norway Grants in Bulgaria – A bit of history. 32 projects funded under Green Industry Innovation 2009-2014

EUR 11.5 million was allocated to 32 projects for greening of businesses in Bulgaria during the previous cycle of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, Innovation Norway’s programme for Green Industry Innovation. With 110 Bulgarian projects submitted for the 3 calls of the Green Industry Innovation programme 2009-2014, out of which 32 were funded, the EEA & Norway grants offer a good alternative to other, better-known funding programmes (local EU – funding or state aid schemes, Horizon 2020/ SME Instrument programme of the EC and other).

Green Industry Innovation – the main programme addressing private sector enterprises, supported new environmentally friendly technologies and modern resource efficient production equipment, thus helping the Bulgarian private sector to overcome challenges in becoming more innovative and greener. During the 2009-2014 funding cycle Bulgarian enterprises, together with expertise from Norwegian partners as well as assistance from the Programme Operator – Innovation Norway, received funding contributing to sustainable economic growth through greener production processes, green technologies, product design and services.

The value of the approved grants for the 32 Bulgarian organisations ranged from EUR 150 000 to more than EUR 1.2 million, from greening a hotel by implementing Norwegian expertise, to reduction of energy consumption in small and medium-sized dairy farms, from improving a company’s competitiveness through investment in environmentally friendly technologies for production of electricity from renewable energy source to implementing new ecological technology for PVC production allowing the recycling and re-use of materials.

For more details on what kind of projects were funded such as beneficiaries, budget, partners and description of the projects, please read here.