The National Innovation Fund (NIF) has extended the application deadline under the procedure for the selection of external experts to participate in the evaluation of project proposals.

Date of publication: 29 June 2026
Extended application deadline: 29 September 2026
Submission of documents: info@nif.government.bg

Applicants may apply to be included as experts in more than one thematic area, provided that their qualifications and professional expertise are relevant to the respective areas.

I. Thematic Areas

1. Informatics and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT);
2. Mechatronics and Microelectronics;
3. Industries for Healthy Living, Bioeconomy and Biotechnology;
4. New Technologies in Creative and Recreational Industries;
5. Clean Technologies, Circular and Low-Carbon Economy;
6. Finance and Business Development.

II. Selection and Engagement of Experts

Candidates included in the List of Evaluators may be selected and invited to participate in:

1. Evaluation of project proposals submitted under NIF calls for proposals. Evaluations will be carried out through the Information System for Management and Monitoring of EU Funds in Bulgaria 2020 (ISUN 2020).
2. Technical monitoring of administrative grant agreements concluded by the NIF.
3. Evaluators are divided into the following categories:
   • technical evaluators;
   • business evaluators.

III. Applicants must meet the following requirements:

III.a. Minimum Mandatory Requirements

Applicants must:

1. be natural persons;
2. not have been convicted by a final judgment of an offence committed in an official capacity, fraud, corruption, participation in a criminal organisation or any other illegal activity detrimental to the financial interests of Bulgaria or the European Union;
3. not be members of the NIF Executive Board;
4. not hold a position within the NIF administration;
5. hold at least a Master’s degree;
6. have at least 10 years of professional experience in the selected thematic area(s);
7. for technical evaluators, demonstrate relevant experience through publications, an H-index or references, as well as participation in and/or management of projects in the relevant thematic area;
8. for business/financial evaluators, have experience in the financial audit of projects and/or market and marketing assessment and the strategic development of businesses.

III.b. Additional Criteria

In selecting evaluators, consideration will also be given to practical experience in the development and commercialisation of innovations, including:

• participation in the development and implementation of products;
• experience in business development;
• demonstrated market results.

These circumstances must be substantiated by evidence of specific results.

IV. Documents Required for Participation in the Selection Procedure

1. Application Form – Annex 1;
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV);
3. Documents supporting the information provided in the Application Form:
   • a document certifying the applicant’s completed educational and qualification degree;
   • documents demonstrating the experience referred to in item 6 of the Minimum Mandatory Requirements, listed in Annex 2;
   • documents demonstrating the experience referred to in item 7 or 8, as applicable, listed in Annex 3;
   • a declaration confirming the absence of the circumstances referred to in items 2, 3 and 4 of the Minimum Mandatory Requirements – Annex 4.

Clarifications regarding the application documents:

1. Documents for which standard templates are provided are attached at the end of this publication.
2. Documents for which no standard template is provided must be submitted in scanned form.

V. Application Procedure

1. The complete set of required documents must be submitted by email to: info@nif.government.bg

2. The deadline for submission of applications is 17:30 on 29 September 2026.

VI. Selection Procedure

External evaluators will be selected by a committee specifically appointed for this purpose by the NIF Executive Board.

The selection procedure comprises the following stages:

1. Verification of the submitted documents.
2. Assessment of compliance with the criteria set out in this Call. Applicants approved on the basis of the criteria set out in the Evaluation Sheet accompanying the Call will be included in the National Innovation Fund List of Evaluators.
3. The evaluation of each project proposal shall involve at least one evaluator with demonstrated experience in business development and commercialisation.
4. The assessment of experts covers:
   • professional experience;
   • expertise;
   • practical experience in the application of innovations.
5. Following completion of the selection procedure, a list of approved and unsuccessful applicants for inclusion as experts will be drawn up.

VII. Processing of Personal Data

By submitting documentation under this Call, applicants acknowledge that the National Innovation Fund (NIF) will process the personal data provided in connection with the selection procedure in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation – GDPR) and the applicable Bulgarian legislation.

The NIF acts as data controller and processes the personal data for the purposes of managing communications and carrying out the activities related to this Call, as well as for any other purposes required by law.

Personal data will be retained for a period of 10 years.