Balgarianovinite.com Bulgaria will establish a modern centre for research and development in the field of defence technologies and dual-use solutions, the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works said on Friday.
The centre will be built in the Stara Zagora region, South Central Bulgaria, and will be funded with EUR 85 million under the Development of the Regions 2021-2027 Programme managed by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works. The initiative was presented during the ninth meeting of the Programme Monitoring Committee chaired by Deputy Regional Development Minister Yura Vitanova.
The new centre will aim to develop innovative technologies and solutions in the field of defence, including research into the extraction of valuable materials from coal fields, as well as the introduction of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in the sector. It will include a training centre for engineering personnel. The project will create new jobs directly related to the development of the region. The initiative is in line with the EU’s priorities for strengthening European defence autonomy.
At the meeting, Vitanova said: “We are in an extremely intense period of implementation of the Programme and are catching up on the delay from the beginning of the programming period.” She added that the first contracts for three of the main priorities have been signed. Three new procedures for financing photovoltaic systems, socio-economic transformation, and energy communities will be announced by the end of the year.
Vitanova reported that BGN 920 million has been earmarked for 2026 in order to minimize the risk of losing funds.
The members of the Monitoring Committee also decided to allocate over BGN 263 million to the development of the hydrogen industry in the Stara Zagora municipality that will contribute to the construction of a green hydrogen production complex, charging stations, obtaining new vehicles and delivery trailers.
Currently, 30% or slightly over BGN 1.881 billion has been agreed from the budget of the Development of the Regions 2021-2027 Programme. BGN 354 million has been paid to beneficiaries, which represents 5% of the total budget of the programme, and BGN 154 million has been verified by the European Commission, reported Asya Stankova, head of the Directorate General Strategic Planning and Programs for Regional Development.
The meeting was attended by Andreas von Busch and Joerg Lackenbauer of the European Commission, mayors, experts from various ministries, state organizations, the non-governmental sector. Centre for Research and Development in Defence to Be Built in Stara Zagora 2025 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2025-11-14 18:36:09 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law