On 16 January 2026 (Friday) at 10:30 a.m., in the building of the Kyustendil Youth Centre, the Kyustendil Regional Information Centre, together with the Municipality of Kyustendil, is organising an information meeting to present the application conditions under the calls of the Interreg VI-A IPA Bulgaria–Serbia 2021–2027 Programme and the “Regions in Growth” Programme 2021–2027.
We invite representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises from Bulgaria who would like to apply under the Second Call for SMEs within Priority 1: Competitive Cross-Border Region, with specific objective RSO1.3 – sustainable growth, competitiveness and job creation.
The call is aimed at Bulgarian SMEs wishing to work in partnership with companies from Serbia and offers very attractive conditions:
✅ 100% funding for Bulgarian enterprises
– 85% from the EU
– 15% national co-financing
– no own financial contribution
💶 20% advance payment upon contract signature – no guarantee required
🗓 Application deadline:
31 March 2026, 5:00 p.m. (Bulgarian time)
Applications are submitted only online through the JEMS system.
During the Information Day you will learn:
• which SMEs are eligible and how to find a partner from Serbia
• what investments are eligible – at least 60% of the budget for equipment, technologies, digital solutions, energy efficiency, modernisation and construction works
• what “soft” measures can be included – up to 40% for training, marketing and knowledge transfer
• how the online partner database for SMEs works
• how to submit a project electronically
Real examples of cross-border projects will also be presented – for example how companies from different sectors (tourism, transport, services) can work together and create a joint product for the region.