Successful examples of using EU funds

SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLES OF USING EU FUNDS

Operational Programme "Development of the Competitiveness of the Bulgarian Economy" 2007-2013


PROJECT “SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PARK”

Operational programme "Development of the Competitiveness of the Bulgarian Economy" 2007-2013

Beneficiary: “Sofia Tech Park” JSC - a state-owned company aiming to boost the development of research,innovation and technological capabilities of Bulgaria in partnership with private and public institutions in order tocreate and manage an environment for innovation, provide support to the commercialization of new technologies,products and services.

Total project amount: BGN 97 766 105, 66 (Grant: BGN 97 259 293, 34)

Start date: 10.01.2013 End date: 31.12.2015

Project aim – to create innovation input conditions comprising of research infrastructure and infrastructure fordissemination of research results and thus creating conductive environment for innovations; to create innovationoutput conditions comprising of developing of knowledge-based businesses through an incubator transformingthe research results into industrial applications; and in parallel creating efficient working environment for researchand innovations through providing cultural, sports and other infrastructure; to promote the development of hightechnology, innovation and applied science in Bulgaria, as well as to strengthen the competitiveness of science andentrepreneurship; to accelerate these processes by bridging the gap between the academic and businesscommunities and by creating favorable conditions for startup companies with innovative ideas.

Specific aim achieved – the first science and technology park (T+IN – Technology and Innovation network) inBulgaria designed and created to act as a platform for the exchange of knowledge and ideas between academia,business, government and society. Apart from modern infrastructure and laboratory equipment, the park alsoprovides professional services to technology-based companies in the process of incubation. Events are beingorganized in T+IN, including forums on entrepreneurship, innovation and science, in cooperation with leadinguniversities and technology companies.

The project is intended to be fully completed under Operational programme "Development of the Competitiveness ofthe Bulgarian Economy" 2007-2013 with a total budget amounting to BGN 12 500 000 for further construction works,delivery of equipment, establishing a voucher funding scheme, creating a web based platform for scienceinfrastructure, etc.


PROJECT “SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PARK”

Results Achieved:

A complex of 11 Laboratories – managed by an independent consortium, established specifically for that purpose(members: leading academic institutions such as Sofia University, Technical University of Sofia, Medical Universityof Sofia, and the Bulgarian Academy of Science). The laboratories within the complex carry out independent andcollaborative research and development activities – Bioinfomatics Lab, BioPharmaceutical Lab complex (Lab forextraction of natural products and synthesis of bioactive compounds, “In vitro” laboratory for evaluation ofbiological activity and toxicity; Pharmaceutical development and characterization and “In Silico“ design), ArtificialIntelligence, Intelligent Communication Infrastructures Lab, Micro Nano Lab, Virtual and Augmented Reality Lab,Cyber Security Lab, 3D Creativity and New Products Rapid Prototyping Lab, High Performance Computing Lab

Innovation Forum - built to disseminate knowledge and facilitate the conduction of research activity, to serve asan instrument for increasing awareness, for creating ability for informed choices, for exchange of informationmaterials and perspectives and also for understanding and solving problems related to the focus areas of research;

Incubator - built to provide business support and office space in order to assists the SMEs to start up and growand also to provide services in order to develop innovation and knowledge based businesses. Designed forworking, networking and supporting startup companies to develop their ideas into successful business ventures,while it also provides them with the opportunity to access various funding sources; entrepreneurs, mentors,accelerators and investment funds under the same roof.

Museum /Experimentarium - A place for interaction with science and technology, while companies could presenttheir innovative products; a place where scientific research and technological transfer results are exhibited and canbe seen.

Sports complex and Multi-storey Car Parking – built to provide an environment that enhances and facilitatesinnovation, creativity and quality win order to contribute to the accomplishment of the research, development andinnovation activities on the territory of the science and technology park.



SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED PROJECT BY

„UNIPACK“ JSC


Grant Procedure: BG161PO003-1.1.07 „Implementation of innovations in enterprises“

Main production activity: Production of a wide range of packaging and packaging products made of paper,cardboard and micro corrugated cardboard and flexible soft packaging.

Project name: „Improving the efficiency and competitiveness of Unipack JSC through introduction of innovativeprocess for web offset print on flexible packaging“.

Total project amount: BGN 6 645 521,07 Paid grant amount: BGN 2 999113,86

Specific aim achieved – Introduced innovative production process for web offset print on flexible (soft)packaging with UV inks, with possibility of changing the length of the footprint by fabric technology.

Results Achieved:

Delivered and introduced innovative Machine for web offset print with UV inks on flexible (soft) packaging withpossibility of changing the length of the footprint by fabric technology;

Increasing the production capacity of flexible packaging with 114% and increased revenues from sales;

Optimal cost of production and reducing production costs for printing flexible packaging;

Reduced amount of technological waste and lower energy consumption;

Introduced 5 new products;

Created 3 new workplaces.




„WITTE AUTOMOTIVE BULGARIA“ Ltd.

Operational Programme "Development of the Competitiveness of the Bulgarian Economy" 2007-2013

Grant Procedure : BG161PO003-1.1.07 „Implementation of innovations in enterprises“

Main production activity: producing of different types of locking systems for automobile industry.

Project name: Introducing of innovative products and processes for locking and latching systems forautomobiles in “WITTE Automotive Bulgaria” Ltd.

Total project amount: BGN 5 999 934,64 Paid grant amount: BGN 2 419 239,58

Specific aim achieved – delivery of production lines, technological and industrial equipment and software forproducing of 5 innovative products- different types of locking systems for automobiles.

Results Achieved:

Delivered and introduced 5 innovative technological production lines - D2xx GM Delta III, Toyota 560A RLV,Volvo SPA hood latch, Volvo SPA lock set, PSA_K0 Hood latch;

Delivered and installed software and hardware for development, simulation and engineering testing of theinnovative products;

Produced 5 innovative products –locking automobile systems for automobile companies Toyota, Volvo,General Motors, Peugeot and Citroen;

Created 66 work places.




„ZMM Pobeda - Sliven“ JSC.


Grant Procedure : BG161PO003-1.1.07 „Introduction of innovations in the enterprises”

Main production activity: manufacturing of metal processing machinery.

Project name: “Implementation for Production of an Innovative Product at „ZMM Pobeda - Sliven“ JSC“ –Production line for welded steel pipes with a square and rectangular cross section.

Total project amount: BGN 4 561 680.00 Paid grant amount: BGN 2 735 619.60

Specific aim achieved – an innovative product was implemented in the production (Production line for weldedsteel pipes with a square and rectangular cross section), new equipment was acquired and the product portfoliowas expanded.

Results Achieved:

Equipment for production of an innovative product was purchased and introduced in the production process.

Production costs were lowered; production time needed for the product and the corresponding finishing workswere reduced; productivity rate was raised; the product was launched on foreign markets; the number ofdiscarded products was lowered and energy costs were cut.

Employment rate was increased – new working places were created.




“NIKOLA VAPTSAROV “ NAVAL ACADEMY


Grant Procedure : BG161PO003-1.2.04 „Development of the applied research in the research organizations in Bulgaria”

Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy (Bulgarian Maritime University) is the oldest (est. 1881) technical educationalinstitution in Bulgaria and it is recognized as the most prestigious center for training of maritime specialists inthe country. The main research fields are naval equipment, marine technologies, shipping and maritimeeducation for the Navy and merchant shipping.

Project name: Innovative eco and energy saving solutions in Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy.

Total project amount: 648 990 BGN Paid grant amount: 576 799 BGN

Specific aim achieved – R&D capacity improvement aimed at better maritime specialist training in the field ofmaritime ecology and energy efficiency.

Results Achieved:

Established Laboratory complex for sea waters quality testing

Established Laboratory complex for control and prevention of oil spills and malfunctions in maritime transport

Established Laboratory complex for ship propulsion and energetic systems effectiveness improvements



SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTЕD PROJECT BY

„MONBAT“ JSCo.


Grant Procedure : BG161PO003-1.1.07 „Introduction of innovations in the enterprises”

Main production activity: manufacturing of lead-acid batteries for various applications.

Project name: “Production of innovative product - lead-acid batteries AGM Technology (Absorbent Glass-Mat)for electrical systems - "hybrid" (battery - diesel generator, battery - solar panels, battery - wind generator)operating at ambient temperatures higher than 40˚C”;

Total project amount: BGN 4 114 621 Paid grant amount: BGN 2 060 558

Specific aim achieved – An innovative product is introduced in production - lead-acid batteries AGMTechnology, operating at ambient temperatures higher than 40˚C and introduced an innovative manufacturingprocess for the enterprise and Bulgaria - punching of lead bars

Results Achieved:

Introduced in production innovative product - lead-acid batteries AGM Technology;

Introduction of an innovative for the enterprise and Bulgaria manufacturing process - punching of lead bars;

Delivered and introduced into production: System for continuous casting of multi alloy strip for production ofrechargeable bars; System for punching of lead-tin-calcium bar ; Rectifiers; Baths for shaping;

Increasing of production capacity for VRLA batteries as a whole with 117.24%

Optimization of the production costs of the new battery with 10.75 %, compared to conventional VRLA batteries(at unchanged prices of materials);

Increased share of the company on world markets;

Occupying 10% share of the global market for batteries for hybrid systems.




„Vi-Rus International“ Ltd.

Operational programme "Innovations and Competitiveness"

Grant Procedure: BG16RFOP002-2.001 „Improving production capacity of SMEs“

Main production activity: The main object of the company is the design, production and marketing of PCB(printed circuit board) products and electronic components

Project name: Strengthening the export potential of Vi-Rus International Ltd.

Total project amount: BGN 790 000 Paid grant amount: BGN 553 000

Specific aim achieved – reduction of costs of manufactured products, increased competitiveness and exportpotential, increased production capacity, enhanced export potential and expanded market share.

Results Achieved:

A new flexible automated system for drilling and milling of high printed circuits was introduced into theproduction;

The equipment delivered affects the quality characteristics of the products due to its high precision work,advanced methods of adjustment and control and allow the production of new products, such as multilayerprinted circuits;

Expanded market share of the company and business opportunities;

Introduced new technologies to improve resource efficiency and effectiveness in the production process as wellas reduced overall manufacturing costs


Government & Nonprofit

Successful examples of using EU funds