Deputy Minister Piperkov: Over 40 Projects With Bulgarian Participation Already Receive Funding From the European Defence Fund

More than 40 projects with Bulgarian participation are already receiving funding from the European Defence Fund. This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry, Krasimir Piperkov, during the opening of a national information day dedicated to the European Defence Fund and the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP). He congratulated the Bulgarian winners for 2025, whose projects secured funding under the EDF, and highlighted that eight projects with Bulgarian participation were among the programme's beneficiaries in the past year alone.

"In an increasingly complex security environment, strengthening Europe's defence capabilities is a key priority. Developments in recent years have demonstrated the need for resilient and technologically advanced indigenous capabilities," Deputy Minister Piperkov emphasised. According to him, the European Defence Fund has already established itself as a principal instrument for supporting joint research and development projects. "The Fund encourages partnerships between enterprises, research organisations and institutions, and creates opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to integrate into supply chains," he added.

The Deputy Minister further noted that the Fund's Annual Work Programme for 2026 builds on the progress achieved to date, placing emphasis on key technological domains such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, advanced materials and unmanned technologies. "For Bulgarian enterprises and organisations, this represents a tangible opportunity not only to participate in European consortia, but also to position themselves as reliable partners in the development and deployment of high value-added solutions," Deputy Minister Piperkov added.

The event was organised by the Ministry of Economy and Industry of Bulgaria. Participants included representatives of the Armaments Policy Directorate at the Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria, the Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space of the European Commission, as well as representatives of state institutions, businesses, non-governmental organisations, associations, and the research and academic community. Approximately 37 companies were registered to participate in the event.