Bulgaria is building a national network of "smart offices" with artificial intelligence

Bulgaria is launching an ambitious national project to build a network of "smart offices", integrating technologies for artificial intelligence (AI), performance analysis and automated energy and climate management systems. The initiative is part of the "Digital Bulgaria 2025" strategy and aims to turn the country into a regional leader in the introduction of intelligent solutions in business spaces.

The model is based on combining digital technologies, artificial intelligence, automation and energy platforms, which support dynamic regulation of lighting, temperature, humidity and air circulation in offices — according to the activity and the number of employees present. According to experts, the systems will allow a reduction in energy consumption by up to 30% and an improvement in the overall efficiency of the working environment by over 20%.

The solutions are implemented jointly between the Ministry of Innovation and Growth, AI Cluster Bulgaria and private technology companies working in the field of sustainable buildings and automation. AI modules will be implemented in each office, capable of analyzing the performance of teams and adapting the space in real time according to the needs of the employees — for example, lighting and noise environment according to the type of tasks.

The first pilot buildings will be built in Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv with the participation of companies from the energy sector such as Efficient Energy Bulgaria and construction investors applying the principles of "green design". According to the architects from the "Office Investments & Workspace 2025" forum, the offices of the future will be "ecosystems for efficiency", combining automated management, modular design and entirely paperless document flow.

AI solutions will use algorithms to predict building load and analyze employee behavior. Through them, the costs of electricity, heating and cooling, as well as the schedules for technical support will be optimized. According to GoBright's research on trends in 2025, such intelligent systems can reduce the costs of office space management by up to 25% per year.

The project is expected to be partially funded through the European fund for digital transformation and green technologies. The investment for the construction of the first 15 sites will exceed 40 million euros. The goal is for Bulgaria to have a complete national network of "smart office spaces" by the end of the decade, connected in a single platform, in which the exchange of data between buildings will support effective urban management.

The Minister of Innovation defined the project as "a step towards the future of work", emphasizing that the initiative will create hundreds of high-tech jobs, reduce the carbon footprint in the corporate sector and put Bulgaria alongside the leading European economies in the field of intelligent infrastructures.