Opportunities for IT companies under the Operational Programs in Bulgaria

1. Opportunities for IT companies under the Operational Programs in Bulgaria

2. Structure of funding EU funds National co-funding Operational Program Priority axes Schemes Projects by Institutions Projects by NGOs Projects by Bulgarian Companies Subcontractors

3. General conditions for Italian IT companies • Public procurement law requirements • Publication sites: • http://ted.europa.eu/ • http://dv.parliament.bg/

4. Operational program Competitiveness • Priority - 1 - Development of knowledge-based economy and innovative activities 1.1. Support for the creation and commercialization of innovations in enterprises and protection of industrial property rights - Two procedures to be open in the first half of 2009 - Beneficiaries: newly registered (not earlier than 3 years) companies under the Bulgarian laws • Priority - 2 - Increasing efficiency of enterprises and promoting supportive business environment 2.1. Improvement of technologies and management in enterprises - One procedure to be open in the first half of 2009 - Beneficiaries: newly registered (not earlier than 3 years) companies under the Bulgarian laws

5. Operational Program on Transport 2007-2013 Priority axis 1 - Development of railway infrastructure along the Trans-European and major national transport axes Operations: • Modernization, rehabilitation and electrification of railway sections along the trans-European transport axes of nation-wide and EU importance; • Modernization, rehabilitation and electrification of railway sections connecting the main railway network of Republic of Bulgaria with the main railway networks of the neighboring countries Potential Beneficiary of this priority axis is: National Railway Infrastructure Company Potential projects: • Modernisation of the Vidin-Sofia railway line; • Modernisation of the Sofia – Plovdiv railway line; The project includes the following activities: • Implementation of contracts on construction, signalisation, telecommunication and IT systems, supervision and consulting. Indicative value of the project : 320 mil. Euro and 125 mil. Euro Indicative start of the project: 2010.

6. Operational Program on Transport 2007-2013 Priority Axis 4 - Improvement of the maritime and inland-waterway navigation Operations: • Removing the bottlenecks on the Danube River (TEN-T priority axes 18) • Setting up and development of navigation information systems Potential Beneficiary of this priority axis is: • Agency for Exploration and Maintenance of the Danube River • Maritime Administration Executive Agency Potential projects: • Development of river information system in the Bulgarian part of Danube river The project includes the following activities: • Implementation of contracts on construction and delivery of equipment for the development and implementation of river information system Indicative value of the project : 15 mil. Euro Indicative start of the project: the project indicative start was in 2008.

7. Operational program Environment 2007-2013 Priority axis 1: Improvement and development of water and wastewater infrastructure in settlements with over 2000 PE and in settlements below 2000 PE within urban agglomeration areas. Potential Beneficiaries: Municipal administrations, Water Supply and Sewerage Companies (WSSC) and River Basin Management Directorates. Indicative start of the project: 2009 Priority axis 3: Preservation and restoration of biodiversity Potential Beneficiaries: Municipal authorities, associations of municipalities, directorates within the Ministry of environment and water and within the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Supply that are responsible for managing national and natural parks respectively, as well as other units within these two ministries that are involved in/responsible for the management of NATURA 2000 sites and protected areas, NATURA 2000 management administrations, non–governmental organizations. Indicative start of the project: 2009

8. Rural Development Program 2007-2013 Priority axes 3: Quality of life Measure: 321 Basic Services for the Economy and Rural Population • Maximum funding 3 000 000 Euro for municipalities and 500 000 Euro for NGOs (70-100% of the eligible expenses depending on the candidate) Potential beneficiaries: 178 municipalities in Bulgaria and NGOs

9. Operational Program Human Resource Development 2007-2013 Priority axis 3: Improving the quality of education and training in correspondence with the labour market needs for building a knowledge-based economy • Area of intervention 3.1. Improving the quality of services in education and training Priority axis 6. Improving the effectiveness of labour market institutions and of social and healthcare services • Area of intervention 6.1. Development and modernisation of the labour market system • Area of intervention 6.2. Strengthening the capacity of institutions for social inclusion and for provision of health services

10. Operational Program Administrative Capacity 2007-2013 Priority axis I: Good governance • Sub-priority 1.2. Transparency and Integrity of the State Administration Priority axis II: Human resources management • Sub-priority 2.1. Modern human resources management in the state administration Priority axis III: Quality administrative service delivery and e-governance development • Sub-priority 3.1. Improvement of the service delivery to the citizens and the business sector, including through e-governance development • Sub-priority 3.2. Standard information and communication environment and interoperability • Sub-priority 3.3. Improvement of the service delivery provided by the bodies of the judiciary through development of information technologies

11. Cross-border Cooperation Programmes • Bulgaria - TurkeyIPA CBC Programme • Bulgaria - Serbia IPA CBC Programme • Bulgaria - the FYROM IPA CBC Programme • Romania-Bulgaria CBC Programme 2007-2013 • Black Sea Cross Border Cooperation