Bulgarian entrepreneurs are taking a more mature approach to artificial intelligence (AI), moving from initial optimism towards expectations of measurable business value. At the same time, the adoption of AI systems across the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is accelerating at a faster pace than in the wider region, positioning Bulgaria as a regional leader in AI-driven digitalisation. These are among the key findings of the EY Entrepreneurship Barometer 2026, presented on Tuesday by EY Bulgaria. The survey examines entrepreneurs’ perceptions of the business environment in Bulgaria, which this year was considered favourable by 43% of respondents, up from 26% in 2025.
The EY Entrepreneurship Barometer gathers the views of more than 1,000 entrepreneurs across 12 countries, primarily in Central and Eastern Europe. The report on Bulgaria was prepared in close cooperation with the Bulgarian Entrepreneurial Association (BESCO). Its data were collected during the spring and summer of 2026 and are based on responses from 70 senior executives.
Artificial intelligence is currently a leading topic for Bulgarian entrepreneurs, with 86% of respondents saying that its use in their organisations had increased over the previous 12 months. Other digital technologies recording significant growth include data analytics software, cited by 67% of respondents, cloud services at 60%, and the Internet of Things at 38%.
AI adoption has accelerated sharply compared with 2025, rising to 86% from 71%. According to the report’s authors, this points to a shift towards the practical digitalisation and automation of businesses. By comparison, AI use is growing more rapidly in Bulgaria than across the region, where the corresponding figure is 76%, the report says, identifying Bulgaria as a regional technology leader.
Another significant finding is the decline in the proportion of companies that have made no investments in AI. In 2026, their share fell to 22%, compared with 52% a year earlier.
The year-on-year comparison also shows a sharp decrease in expectations about AI’s impact on business efficiency, with the share of respondents expressing such expectations falling to 68% from 87%. The report interprets this as evidence of more realistic attitudes and expectations towards AI.
Despite these developments, cybersecurity remains less of a priority for Bulgarian entrepreneurs than for their regional counterparts, with 33% identifying it as a key area of concern, compared with 51% across the region. The report describes this gap as a shortcoming and a source of risk amid growing digital threats.
The 2026 barometer also identifies a positive shift in entrepreneurs’ confidence in Bulgaria’s business environment compared with 2025. Some 43% of respondents consider the conditions for doing business favourable or very favourable, while 25% view them as unfavourable and 30% remain neutral.
The share of positive assessments has therefore risen from 26% to 43% over 2025, while the proportion of negative assessments has fallen from 42% to 25%.
Despite the improvement, entrepreneurs continue to identify bureaucracy and regulation, as well as a shortage of qualified employees, as major obstacles to business development. For 49% of respondents, the political and economic situation is a principal concern.
The survey also points to a significant change in entrepreneurs’ attitudes towards ownership of the companies they have founded. They are increasingly open to selling their businesses or exploring other forms of cooperation. The share of respondents who said they would not part with their companies over the next 12 months fell to 63% in 2026’s edition, from 90% previously. According to the report’s authors, this signals a more mature approach to entrepreneurship and capital.
Overall, the 2026 barometer points to continued optimism among Bulgarian entrepreneurs, plans to expand businesses and hire additional employees, and rising productivity driven by artificial intelligence.
AI Adoption Accelerates in Bulgarian Companies, Business Survey Finds THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-09-29 16:50:52
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