Concept for the Development of Artificial Intelligence in Bulgaria Until 2030

2.2 Artifical Intelligence consuming sectors

AI is being deployed across digitized sectors including e-commerce and digital platforms, which use AI for customer tracking and personalized product selection; finance and banking, which use AI for creditworthiness assessment and fraud detection; energy, manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, public administration, transport, smart cities, and environmental monitoring, with applications ranging from operational optimization to autonomous systems and real-time decision support. Sectors also deploy AI in security, defense, cybersecurity, crisis response, and social applications such as information verification and bias mitigation, while modern cyber and hybrid attacks increasingly use AI requiring counter-AI systems for defense. The European Commission calls for rapid deployment of AI-based products and services in public administration, hospitals, utilities, transport, financial supervision, and other public interest areas where technology is sufficiently developed for large-scale implementation.

2.3 Sectors enabling the development and implementation of AI

Education and training at all levels, including vocational retraining through lifelong learning, university-business-school integration, and development of hard skills in mathematics, data analysis, programming, and STEM and digital fields are identified as key enablers for AI development, with higher education developing AI specialists and secondary education building basic computer and ICT literacy. Reliable AI development requires a legal framework protecting fundamental rights, product safety, and legal liability based on international law and EU human rights law including non-discrimination, accountability, human dignity, and privacy principles, with due diligence systems clarifying AI incident liability by defining stakeholder roles and responsibilities as AI applications become more autonomous. Bulgaria must transpose EU product safety and liability directives nationally through compliance mechanisms while following principles that limit administrative regulation and control to avoid hindering innovation, and should identify and empirically assess real societal risks from AI use before introducing regulatory requirements backed by state administrative control.

3.1 Political framework

Bulgaria's development strategy Bulgaria 2030 establishes three strategic goals and thirteen national priorities including emphasis on digital connectivity, e-government services, and overcoming low digital competencies through education system reforms and private sector partnerships. The Ministry of Education and Science is reforming curricula and funding for ICT research at all levels, while the Ministry of Economy's 2014 Smart Specialization Strategy targets qualification as a moderate innovator by 2020 through ICT and clean technology priorities. Various sector-specific strategies support AI development: the Ministry of Agriculture's 2019 digitization strategy for rural areas and established knowledge-sharing infrastructure; the 2016 Cyber-Sustainable Bulgaria strategy addressing security challenges from smart devices, AI systems and the Internet of Things; and Sofia's smart specialization program focusing on intelligent urban environments, cyberphysical systems, healthcare, data protection and energy systems.

3.2 State of the Bulgarian ecosystem in the field of AI

Bulgaria's AI ecosystem depends on collaboration between scientists, entrepreneurs, investors and government, with the country ranking first in the EU for WiFi4EU access but 28th on the DESI digital economy index, while facing challenges in AI research as young professionals leave academia despite strengths in IT sectors. According to 2019 data, 47 companies were developing or using AI in Bulgaria (32 startups, 15 established firms, over 3,000 employees), and an Ipsos survey of 380 enterprises found 54 percent deploying at least one AI technology, 31 percent deploying at least two, and 11 percent planning implementation within two years, though key barriers include difficulty hiring qualified staff (57 percent), implementation costs (52 percent), and process adaptation costs (49 percent), with needed skills in big data (41%), programming (41%), machine learning (35%), robotics (32%), and cloud computing (27%). Bulgaria ranks 27th out of 28 EU member states in innovation performance, has only 29 percent of its population with basic digital skills compared to 57 percent across the EU, and 0.8 percent of SMEs in high-tech and medium-tech industries versus 2 percent across the EU, though the State Agency for Research and Innovation established in 2020 aims to strengthen applied research and public-private partnerships and develop Sofia Tech Park as a strategic innovation laboratory.

3.3 SWOT analysis of the Bulgarian ecosystem in the field of AI

Bulgaria has recognized centers of excellence in information and communication technology with traditions in artificial intelligence and robotics research, a competitive high-tech sector, and good international partnerships, but faces critical gaps including brain drain of scientists, insufficient research funding, regionally uneven distribution of scientific capacity, weak connections between academic and business sectors, and low digital skills in the general population and small-medium enterprises. The country may benefit from European support for artificial intelligence and robotics development, educational system reform including lifelong learning initiatives, and a visible trend of young high-tech professionals returning, though key threats include insufficient capacity to build a trained workforce during 2021-2027, slow commercialization of research results being displaced by foreign products, weak retraining mechanisms for displaced workers, and delays in accumulating accessible large datasets for the public sector.

4.1 Providing modern communications and scientific infrastructure development and introduction of AI and digital new generation

By 2030, the government aims to provide gigabit connectivity to major socioeconomic institutions and digitally intensive businesses, develop cloud and data infrastructure aligned with European initiatives, and maintain globally competitive research infrastructure that is open to scientists and businesses. This includes connecting major national research complexes to European networks to retain qualified staff and foster international collaboration.

4.2 Developing an advanced system for education and lifelong learning

Education at all levels must address AI development through mass basic training, specialized secondary and higher education, teacher professional development, and lifelong learning opportunities. AI itself will modernize education systems through cloud-based intelligent educational services and flexible content platforms supporting preschool through higher education and distance learning.

4.3 Strengthening and developing the capacity for research and technology transfer in the field of AI and related technologies

The research system must expand capacity through integrated teams with international partnerships, attract young talent, and integrate into European research initiatives to develop new algorithms, technologies and product prototypes. Academic entrepreneurship and technology transfer to the private sector and SMEs will be strengthened through closer science-business links, joint projects, startup creation, and knowledge commercialization.

4.4 Unlocking the potential of data as a raw material for AI development

Opening public datasets and enabling unrestricted cross-sectoral sharing of anonymized data creates opportunities for valuable products and better informed decision-making across citizens, enterprises, public institutions, and research. National data systems will align with European frameworks through standardized architectures and interoperability mechanisms to support AI innovation.

4.5 Introducing AI-based innovation in key sectors

The strategy aims to provide financial instruments, consulting services, and testing infrastructure for AI applications in enterprises and government institutions, prioritizing technological renewal of industry, intelligent agriculture, transport safety systems, smart cities, healthcare modernization, and administrative services, with implementation expected to increase competitiveness, generate new business models and jobs, and support European Green Deal objectives. Bulgaria will establish a trust ecosystem for artificial intelligence through public dialogue, compliance with European Union rules protecting fundamental human rights and consumer rights, and a proportionate regulatory framework focused on high-risk systems such as biometric recognition, autonomous vehicles, and recruitment platforms that may cause discrimination.

5.1 Building a reliable infrastructure for AI development

Bulgaria will develop high-performance computing infrastructure, secure data storage systems, and fifth-generation network connectivity to support artificial intelligence deployment, including organizing computing clusters for researchers in artificial intelligence and mechatronics, establishing expert groups to accumulate large datasets in health and agriculture following FAIR principles, and creating digital innovation hubs providing testing laboratories, shared data spaces, and support services particularly for small-medium enterprises and startups. The strategy also proposes measures to support trustworthy AI infrastructure and data ecosystems, including encouraging exchange of non-personal data with safeguards for personal data in healthcare, creating incentives for data sharing on public and private platforms, providing high-quality datasets and open-access AI platforms compatible with European systems, and establishing digital information hubs for AI and robotics.

5.2 Development of research capacity for scientific excellence

The strategy aims to overcome fragmentation in AI research by establishing a Bulgarian Research Programme with academic institutions to conduct research in neural networks, machine learning, natural language processing, and knowledge graphs, creating infrastructure for doctoral and postdoctoral training, and involving Bulgarian teams in pan-European networks and European testing centers in healthcare, robotics and agriculture. The strategy proposes engaging Bulgarian academic institutions in international data research organizations, creating collaboration networks between universities, vocational schools and companies for joint AI training, and strengthening doctoral education in AI through legal framework changes and targeted funding, including performance-based incentives and measures to increase publications in top-ranked journals and expand the Bulgarian Artificial Intelligence Association.

5.3 Establishing a knowledge base and skill set for the development and use of AI

Bulgaria's strategy aims to build AI and digital skills across all education levels: in secondary education by developing skills in programming, data analysis and algorithm design, enhancing understanding of ethical issues in digital technologies, and applying AI tools while protecting children's fundamental rights; in higher education by training specialists with strong mathematical and technical foundations, expanding master's and doctoral programmes in AI, establishing talent programmes for distinguished students, integrating AI impact studies and reliable AI standards across informatics and technical specialties, including legal and ethical aspects in technical programmes, and using AI tools to improve education management systems; and in vocational training and continuing education by offering short-term training and internships in digital skills and AI application, designing requalification programmes for IT specialists through lifelong learning, creating requalification schemes for workers in roles threatened by automation through cooperation between business and academia, and developing an open-source platform for AI education resources and best practices.

5.4 Support for innovation to implement AI in practice

Bulgaria will participate in international AI innovation initiatives and European competitions, streamline funding procedures for Bulgarian teams, develop Sofia Tech Park as a testing laboratory, and create financial mechanisms to support AI adoption in industry and services especially for small and medium enterprises. The strategy includes establishing Living Labs for companies to learn AI use cases, supporting university incubators and start-ups, funding innovation laboratories in companies, and disseminating European best practices on AI integration and employment impact.

5.5 Raising awareness and building trust in society

Bulgaria will organize awareness campaigns tailored to different audiences including businesses, schools, public institutions and vulnerable groups, to communicate AI benefits and address cyber risks and misuse. The strategy includes retraining campaigns for affected workers, establishing a national Center for Excellence in AI to publicize achievements, creating Bulgarian-language video content about AI applications, implementing European initiatives to raise public awareness, and promoting media coverage of successful AI use in emergencies and hazardous conditions. Bulgaria will organize specialized academic information days with representatives from companies developing AI software, and will arrange competitions and hackathons for students and pupils, including participation through established channels like Olympiads, ministry competitions, and professional organizations.

5.6 Establishing a regulatory framework for the development and implementation of reliable AI in accordance with international regulatory and ethical standards

Bulgaria will assess how existing regulations on fundamental rights, non-discrimination and data protection apply to AI technologies, evaluate safety and legal liability measures, and analyze responsibility distribution across supply chains, creating a national risk assessment framework based on precautionary principles and pan-European methodology for high-risk AI technologies while balancing regulatory requirements with business freedom. Bulgaria will establish an advisory monitoring mechanism for AI impacts involving government, business, experts and the scientific community, and develop tools to promote safety and legal responsibility including ethical commissions, sectoral codes of conduct and ethical guidelines. The strategy aims to increase public engagement through dialogue and ensure relevant authorities can explain to citizens how AI affects their fundamental rights.

7.1 Implementation

The Council of Ministers should establish an interdepartmental working group with representatives from state institutions, local authorities, academia, and civil society to analyze the sector and develop an operational national roadmap. This roadmap will specify concrete measures, timelines, responsible bodies, expected outcomes, and funding sources for implementing the concept, with regional authorities preparing supporting implementation plans.

7.2 Monitoring

A Coordinating Body appointed by the Council of Ministers shall oversee monitoring of sectoral and regional policies across strategic, political, operational, and technical levels, measuring budget compliance, deadline adherence, and achievement of planned results through effectiveness measurements conducted before, during, and after each activity, along with criteria addressing resource use and regulatory, ethical, and motivational requirements. Monitoring shall track impacts of the emerging data economy, labor market changes, and public awareness of AI, while existing indicators measure research success and resource efficiency. If evaluation results are unsatisfactory, corrective actions may adjust implementation organization, resource allocation, deadlines, or concept content, requiring definition of monitoring goals, regulation of supervisory powers, and preparation of a monitoring plan.

7.3 Financing

AI deployment in public and private sectors will receive support through national programmes covering technical assistance, agriculture and rural development, regional development, and human resources during 2021-2027. Horizon Europe and the Digital Europe programme offer significant budgets for AI research and implementation, while Horizon 2020, the European Fund for Strategic Investments, and the European Investment Fund provide mechanisms to encourage private investment and start-up growth. Public funding should prioritise developing secure data infrastructure through Structural and Investment Funds to enable ecosystem coordination and data access between public and private partners.