Bulgarian micro-, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and large companies in the processing industry can now apply for funding under an EU-backed grant scheme worth 180 million levs ($100.9 million/92 million euro) in total and designed to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, the innovation ministry said on Friday.
Project applications will be accepted until October 3, the ministry said in a press release.
The financing will be provided under Bulgaria’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, with co-financing available of between 20% and 50% of the overall project cots, depending on the size of the company and the location of the project. Grant volumes will range from up to 350,000 levs for micro enterprises, up to 750,000 levs for medium-sized enterprised and up to 1 million levs for large companies, with a minimum guaranteed payment of 70,000 levs.
The funds can be used to purchase machinery, equipment or software to help limit environmental damage, to support company investments in reducing waste generation, to limit the use of plastic products and introduce alternative raw materials, including of biological origin, and to improve environmental standards, the ministry explained.
Earlier this month, the European Commission opened an infringement procedure against Bulgaria urging the country to take steps to enforce European regulations on charging for waste management according to the pollution-pays principle.
Source : SeeNews
