Bulgarian Digital Cluster became an associated cluster of the MPowerBIO project

Bulgarian Digital Cluster has been selected to become an MPowerBIO’s associated cluster. This will help us in strengthening our SME’s access to finance support skills and portfolio services, by improving their Investment Readiness Level (thereafter IRL) and in offering our SMEs the unique opportunity to participate in regional and international access to investor events, in the MPowerBIO execution framework.

MPowerBIO in a nutshell

MPowerBIO is a 30-month project (May 2020 to October 2022) receiving funding from the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme.

MPowerBIO has deployed a Cluster Capacity Building Programme for SME clusters, along with an integrated SME Business Support Programme for 350 selected SMEs from these cluster’s networks. The aim is to empower the associated clusters to raise awareness and improve the investment readiness and pitching skills of their SMEs. These programmes are free of charge, both for the clusters and the SMES involved.

It has also built links with investors and directly connects investment ready SMEs identified and supported at Regional Bioeconomy Investment forums with expert coaches, investors and business partners. An EU Bioeconomy Venture Forum is envisaged where the regionally selected projects will pitch their investment and partnering opportunities in front of investors and potential partners.

The MPowerBIO Cluster Capacity Building Programme has been built based on the mapping of investment sources and requirements at EU, national and regional level with a special focus on the local landscape of the clusters while at the same time complementing any information gaps with interviews of experts and practitioners in the field. This mapping will be updated in spring 2022 and will be made available to associated clusters.