Bulgaria's performance towards the Digital Decade targets and objectives.
In 2023, Bulgaria has made notable progress in the delivery of online services to businesses. However, important challenges persist in terms of basic and advanced digital skills and closing urban-rural divides. Although Bulgarian enterprises need to progress in the take-up of technologies, Bulgaria has advanced well in the development of strategic technologies such as chips and quantum computing.
Two main strengths or areas of progress
Delivery of online services to businesses
Bulgaria scores 91.9 out of 100 on the digitalisation of public services for businesses, above the EU average of 85.4 and showing a very strong dynamic.
Semiconductors & quantum
With a long tradition in microelectronics, a strong scientific base, and innovative enterprises, Bulgaria has taken specific actions to contribute to the EU’s objective to double its share in the global semiconductors production. Home to EuroHPC JU’s Discoverer, which is one of the 8 supercomputers located across Europe, Bulgaria is also an EU frontrunner for quantum communication technologies.
Two main weaknesses or areas to improve
Adoption of advanced digital technologies by enterprises
Enterprises’ adoption of advanced digital technologies (either cloud, data analytics, or AI) in Bulgaria stands at 29.3%, significantly below the EU average of 54.6% and ranking last among EU Member States. Specifically, 14.2% of enterprises have adopted cloud technologies, remarkably below the EU average of 38.9%, 3.6% of enterprises have adopted AI, below the EU average of 8%, and 21.9% of enterprises are using data analytics, also below the EU average of 33.2%.
Basic digital skills
Currently, 35.5% of the Bulgarian population has at least a basic level of digital skills, below the EU average of 55.6%. Challenges also remain in the areas of quality and inclusion in education and training, in particular for Roma.
Bulgaria's Key Performance Indicators
Bulgaria’s Digital Decade strategic roadmap
The Bulgarian roadmap demonstrates that the country plans a significant effort to achieve the Digital Decade objectives and targets. It sets targets for 13 out of 14 key performance indicators (KPIs) and, in some of the cases, targets are aligned with the EU 2030 ambitions, while some are lower, such as for digital skills and the take-up of advanced technologies by entreprises. Bulgaria also sets a target for the uptake of either AI or Cloud or Data Analytics. To achieve its digital transformation, Bulgaria plans to allocate a total budget (excluding private investments) estimated at EUR 2.2 billion (2.3% GDP).
Digital rights and principles
The Special Eurobarometer 'Digital Decade 2024' highlights that 63% of Bulgarian respondents trust in affordable high-speed internet and the advancement of their digital skills. However, concerns have grown: 40% of respondents believe the EU protects their digital rights (below the EU average of 45%), 52% are worried about children's online safety (+12% compared to 2023) and 36% are concerned about their online privacy (+7%). These findings underscore the need to reinforce digital rights at national level.
Country-Specific Recommendations
Bulgaria must improve its performance towards the Digital Decade targets and objectives, to foster competitiveness, resilience, sovereignty, and promote European values and climate action.
Digitalisation of SMEs and adoption of advanced technologies by enterprises
Propose measures to increase SMEs' uptake of technologies, particularly of AI, and measures to support innovative start-ups. Leverage activities as part of the ALT-EDIC and build on its capabilities such as BgGPT to design new measures aiming at developing the AI ecosystem and fostering AI adoption.
Basic digital skills
Address the deficit of basic to advanced digital skills, with a specific attention to enhancing the digital inclusion of vulnerable populations and stimulating digital competence from early childhood and throughout working life.
Digitalisation of public services
Further develop and improve the architecture of e-Government to enhance the user-friendliness of public procedures, while minimising administrative burden.
More on the Digital Decade Report 2024
Digital Decade 2024 report: Country fact pages
Check out the progress of all Member States and extracts of country-specific recommendations.