UK-Bulgaria co-operation is boosting semiconductor innovation, investment and skills, strengthening supply chains and supporting Bulgaria's growing tech sector.
Semiconductors underpin everything from smartphones to electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. Secure and diverse supply chains are essential for economic resilience and technological leadership.
Under the UK-Bulgaria Strategic Partnership, the Science and Technology Network (STN) and Department for Business and Trade (DBT) have connected UK expertise with Bulgaria's ambitions under the EU Chips Act 2023 and its fast-growing auto electronics sector.
This collaboration is creating opportunities for innovation, investment, and skills development, strengthening bilateral ties and supporting Bulgaria's efforts to position itself as a competitive player in Europe's semiconductor and automotive technology landscape.
How the Science and Technology Network added value
The Science and Technology Network (STN) has served as a trusted bridge between government, academia, and industry in the UK and Bulgaria - strengthening mutual understanding and unlocking opportunities for collaboration.
A high-level roundtable in Sofia in 2024 hosted by British Embassy Sofia brought together UK and Bulgarian government, academia, and industry leaders to discuss opportunities. STN followed this up by organising a study visit to Scotland in March 2025, where Bulgarian stakeholders experienced the UK's world-class factories and training models first-hand.
Finally, a UK trade mission to Bulgaria in November 2025 showcased the country's growing semiconductor ecosystem including both Bulgarian innovators and global players investing in the Bulgarian market, attracting UK innovators to explore partnerships.
The impact
As a result of the series of activities, STN has facilitated:
development of a €350 million investment Green Silicon Carbide wafer factory, delivering £10.5 million UK export wins and advancing next-generation materials
a research MoU between Glasgow and Sofia Universities, enabling joint projects and talent exchange
an industry MoU between TechWorks UK and Bulgaria's BASEL, strengthening sector ties
The next phase will focus on launching the Green Silicon Carbide factory in Bulgaria, deepening research and development partnerships, and expanding skills initiatives.
By linking UK compound semiconductor expertise with Bulgaria's manufacturing capacity, STN has helped create the foundation for developing longer-term collaboration potential in both research and development and opportunities for business investment. By doing so, partnerships can:
Supply Chain Security: Diversifying production within Europe strengthens supply chain resilience and mitigates geopolitical risks.
Innovation Acceleration: Co-located research and development hubs and factories create an ecosystem for rapid prototyping and commercialisation of next-generation materials like Silicon Carbide.
Talent Pipeline: Joint training programs and academic exchanges will help close the skills gap in a sector facing global shortages.
Help facilitate supportive policy frameworks that can advance international partnerships.
Why Bulgaria?
Bulgaria is a gateway to Eastern markets and key manufacturing hub in Southeast Europe. The country now produces about 80% of sensors used in European cars and hosts state-of-the-art research and development centres and smart factories (for example, Melexis in Sofia, Sensata and Schneider Electric in Plovdiv).
The electronics sector is projected to grow from approximately €2.3 billion in 2023 to €2.7 billion by 2028, representing a compound annual growth rate of 2.9%. Bulgaria's automotive industry comprises around 380 companies employing over 80,000 people and contributes more than 10% to Bulgaria's GDP, making it a key driver of economic growth.
The €1 billion EU-backed research and development push and EU Chips Act 2023 ambitions create strong partnership potential. All these factors showcase Bulgaria as an important hub in the growing European supply chain for semiconductors and chip manufacture.
