Over 90 companies from Bulgaria and Serbia took part in a Partnersearch Forum held at Sofia Tech Park on 20 February 2026. The event brought together entrepreneurs from both sides of the border with the common goal of finding partners and developing joint project ideas with the support of the INTERREG VI-A IPA Bulgaria–Serbia Programme 2021–2027.
The forum was part of the information campaign under the Second Call for direct support to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises under Priority 1 “Competitive Border Region” and was organised by the Managing Authority and the Joint Secretariat of the Programme.
Companies from a wide range of economic sectors participated in the event, including construction, production of construction ceramics, landscape architecture, healthcare, digital marketing and media consultancy, IT services, consulting, winemaking, tourism and hospitality. Enterprises from the food industry, textile sector, production of frozen fruits and vegetables, food and beverage production, packaging, logistics and transport were also represented. The broad sectoral profile of the participants created favourable conditions for identifying complementary partnerships and developing joint investment projects.
The programme opened with a presentation of the application requirements under the Call, with a particular focus on the importance of a tangible cross-border impact and sustainable partnerships. During the forum, companies had the opportunity to present their activities, project ideas and expectations towards potential partners.
The organised B2B meetings attracted the greatest interest, providing opportunities for direct talks between potential partners. Within just a few hours, dozens of bilateral meetings were held, during which concrete investment intentions were discussed, along with opportunities for digitalisation, modernisation of production processes and joint market entry.
The forum went beyond the format of a standard information event and turned into a practical working platform for building cross-border partnerships, giving a strong start to the preparation of project proposals under the Second Call.
It is expected that some of the discussions will lead to concrete joint projects aimed at enhancing competitiveness and promoting the sustainable development of the Bulgaria–Serbia cross-border region.
The deadline for submitting applications under the Call is 31 March 2026, 5:00 p.m.
The Guidelines for Applicants are available here.
Please find the presentation from the event here.
