Defence innovation is a key priority, and strong cooperation among industry, academia, and the armed forces is essential, stated the Minister of Innovation and Growth, Irena Mladenova, at a forum in Sofia.
Start-ups are an indispensable partner in the field of security, as many of today’s most innovative technologies are being developed by small, agile teams. This was stated by the Minister of Innovation and Growth, Irena Mladenova, during the Innovation Continuum 2026 forum of NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT) at the GATE Institute of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski.
“Defence innovation, together with the strengthening of linkages among industry, the research community, and our partners, is a priority, which is why I welcome any ideas and proposals on how these efforts can be further developed. To date, we have implemented a number of initiatives, and I hope we will identify a way to expand and build on them,” Mladenova stated. She cited, by way of example, the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), in which Bulgaria is actively participating. “As a NATO ally, we believe that these efforts will make us stronger,” the Minister stated.
According to her, institutions must act more swiftly, in step with the pace of innovation. “We need clear pathways that integrate funding, testing, regulation, and deployment within a single process,” she stated.
Minister Mladenova placed particular emphasis on the Defence Innovation Centre established at Sofia Tech Park, which is intended for the development of prototypes and the testing of new technologies. She also referred to the Centre of Excellence in Kazanlak, which focuses on the production of dual-use technologies serving both defence and civilian needs. In conclusion, she added that innovation is precisely the means by which Bulgaria’s economy can advance to the next stage of development.
The event is attended by representatives of the GATE Institute, NATO, technology companies and start-ups, research institutes, universities, innovation hubs, and other stakeholders. During the forum, the Institute will also publicly present ALLY1, an intelligent platform developed by the Institute to accelerate dual-use technologies.
