"We view the Balkans as a region that is competitive with the Western countries, China, and the USA. "Some might have considered this a joke ten years ago, but now it is an achievable goal if we build upon it", said Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov in a welcome address at an information day for financing high-tech scientific research and innovation in Sofia. "Europe is strong when all its regions are strong", added Premier Denkov. He recalled that ten years ago, less than 10% of Bulgarian children knew what entrepreneurship was, but today their number is much higher.

"We have ideas, we have talents, we just need to build upon them. Today's event aims to give you the keys to unleash this potential", said European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Iliana Ivanova. She emphasized that Bulgaria has absorbed over 108 million euros under Horizon Europe, the European Union’s flagship research and innovation programme.