A total of 194 Bulgarian organizations have already registered through the European Space Agency (ESA) procedures, and 54 projects with a total value of nearly 10.6 million euros have been implemented. This was announced by Deputy Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation Mira Yosifova in Paris, where she is participating in the 33rd meeting of the Committee for the Program of European Co-operating States (PECS) to ESA. The information was released in a statement on the official page of the Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation (MIDT).

Before the meeting participants, Yosifova presented the progress made by Bulgaria to the Agency, as well as the actions and initiatives undertaken by the MIDT to develop the country's space sector. According to her, the most significant result of the implemented projects is the accumulated industrial, scientific, and institutional capacity within the country.

"Bulgaria continues to strengthen its international position in the space sector. The participation of Prime Minister Rumen Radev and Minister Ivan Vasilev in the International Space Summit, as well as their meeting with the Director General of ESA, Dr. Josef Aschbacher, confirmed the strategic importance our country places on space technologies and on deepening our cooperation with ESA," Yosifova said at the beginning of the meeting, as quoted by the MIDT press center.

The Deputy Minister noted that Bulgaria has the potential to become an important part of European value chains in the space sector. According to her, the country can occupy specific and competitive positions within them.

Yosifova drew special attention to the achievements of Bulgarian companies in the industry. "The company EnduroSat reached a major milestone in July - 100 satellites in orbit, having delivered over 200 space hardware components for missions worldwide. On September 16, the company completed a new investment round worth 205 million dollars, or approximately 178 million euros, with the European Innovation Council investing alongside leading international funds," she explained.

She placed special emphasis on the memorandum signed between the Bulgarian company and the French company Arianespace at the Elysée Palace during the International Space Summit in Paris. According to the agreements, EnduroSat plans to use the Ariane 6 rocket to launch its customers' satellites into orbit starting in 2029.

The Deputy Minister also mentioned the steps taken to develop the research and development center for space technologies and defense in Dobroslavtsi. She explained that the ecosystem develops most successfully when the state and businesses work in partnership. The state builds the framework and a favorable environment, while companies turn these opportunities into technologies, products, and markets. The entire economy benefits from this.

During the Committee meeting, Yosifova also emphasized the scientific and expert potential of Bulgarian scientific institutes and universities. She pointed to specific measures taken to achieve closer cooperation between all participants in the ecosystem.

The Deputy Minister also announced an initiative being developed jointly with ESA. "Together with ESA, we are developing a Space Activities Support Center, which will serve as the foundation for a future incubator," she noted.

According to Yosifova, with the update of the Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization (ISSS), which the MIDT is currently working on, a separate thematic area, "Space Technologies and Dual-Use Technologies," will be added.

"We expect a National Space Strategy to be prepared by the end of the year, as well as the creation of a national program for strategic innovation sectors such as space technologies, microelectronics, and dual-use technologies in 2027," Yosifova added.

According to her, the MIDT is committed to bringing Bulgaria to the next stage of its partnership with ESA - associated membership.

The Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation and the European Space Agency are organizing an information event on October 6 and 7 dedicated to new opportunities for supporting the Bulgarian space sector. The event will take place at Sofia Tech Park, BTA reports.