Bulgaria’s testing and experimentation facilities
The mapping carried out within FINEX shows that Bulgaria hosts a varied set of facilities relevant to experimentation in cleantech-related domains. These include research laboratories, university testing environments, prototyping spaces, digital innovation facilities and urban living lab–type settings. Together, they support activities in fields such as sustainable mobility, energy efficiency, circular economy practices, environmental monitoring, urban development, digital public services and more.
As part of the research aimed at understanding Bulgaria’s cleantech landscape more broadly, several organisations emerged as important contributors to the country’s innovation capacity. Sofia Tech Park offers access to laboratory infrastructure and development services across multiple domains. Resonator provides prototyping and product development facilities for applied engineering. Cleantech Bulgaria plays a central role in promoting green innovation and supporting sustainability-focused entrepreneurship. Invest Sofia offers guidance for businesses establishing or expanding operations in the capital. The Southeast Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) in Burgas supports digital transformation activities, while Trakia Economic Zone provides industrial environments suitable for applied testing. The Discoverer supercomputer adds high-performance computing capabilities that can support modelling, simulation and data-intensive research.
While these facilities differ in purpose and maturity, together they illustrate the range of experimentation and development opportunities currently present in Bulgaria. Their inclusion in the FINEX mapping offers a more complete picture of the national ecosystem and highlights the types of support available for testing and validating cleantech solutions.
Challenges and growing interest in experimentation
The analysis also reveals challenges that influence how quickly new technologies can be trialled and adopted. Fragmented data systems, limited specialised testing environments outside major cities and regulatory procedures that are not always well-suited to early-stage experimentation can slow down the development process. Access to funding for pilot and demonstration activities remains a particular difficulty for smaller companies and municipalities, which often lack the resources needed to undertake real-world tests.
Despite these constraints, the interest in cleantech experimentation in Bulgaria continues to increase. Municipalities are exploring digital tools to address issues in mobility, energy use, waste management and environmental quality. Research institutions are enhancing their technical capacities, and innovation hubs are becoming more active in supporting applied research and prototype development. Startups and SMEs are showing greater willingness to engage in testing activities, especially in areas connected to sustainability, climate adaptation and urban innovation.
Strengthening European connections through FINEX
By incorporating Bulgaria’s mapped facilities into a shared European portfolio, FINEX helps make these opportunities more visible both nationally and internationally. Innovators, researchers and public organisations from Bulgaria can now more easily identify suitable environments for experimentation in other regions, while foreign organisations can explore the capabilities available in Bulgaria.
As the project continues , Bulgaria is focusing on supporting experimentation, promoting regulatory dialogue and sharing knowledge between regions. The insights gathered during the mapping phase form a useful foundation for future planning and can help guide discussions about strengthening national collaboration, improving access to data, expanding testing infrastructure and supporting early-stage cleantech development. While the ecosystem is still evolving, Bulgaria’s involvement in FINEX contributes to the wider European effort to create more practical and coordinated pathways for testing technologies that address environmental and societal challenges.
More information about the FINEX project and how to get involved is available at the FINEX Helpdesk
FINEX LinkedIn FINEX Homepage