Bulgaria

A collection of 148 posts

CEE secures EUR 1.4bn in AI funding in 2023-24

CEE secures EUR 1.4bn in AI funding in 2023-24

Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is a rising force in artificial intelligence (AI) and startups in the region raised EUR 1.4bn in funding between 2023 and 2024, The Recursive writes in its second report entitled “The State of AI in CEE 2024”. Despite a less-than-perfect global funding environment, geopolitical

PKN Orlen CEE's top firm on Coface 500 list

PKN Orlen CEE's top firm on Coface 500 list

Poland is the dominant country in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) business landscape, with 184 companies listed among the region’s top 500, according to Coface’s 2024 CEE Top 500 ranking. Sector shifts, new entrants make top 500 Polish energy giant PKN Orlen topped Coface’s Top 500

Estonia dominates top-30 regional startup list

Estonia dominates top-30 regional startup list

A new list spotlighting the fastest-growing startups in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) shows Estonia as the clear leader in the region’s startup scene, with neighbours Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Lithuania also making the leaderboard. The Sifted 30: Eastern Europe & Baltics leaderboard ranks private startups established within the

CEE's evolving e-commerce landscape

CEE's evolving e-commerce landscape

Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is catching up with Western Europe for e-commerce, but unique regional challenges and opportunities are shaping its growth trajectory, according to the European e-Commerce Report 2024. Central Europe Many CEE countries still experience uneven digital development, as compared to Western Europe where higher internet penetration

As Serbia mulls lithium mine, Bulgaria, Slovenia explore sodium-ion as alternative

As Serbia mulls lithium mine, Bulgaria, Slovenia explore sodium-ion as alternative

As tens of thousands of Serbians rally in opposition to the contentious lithium mining project planned by company Rio Tinto in Jadar, west Serbia, an alternative is being investigated elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). A crucial material for enabling the EU to meet its 2030 climate goals may

New EC report assesses rule of law across CEE

New EC report assesses rule of law across CEE

The new report on rule of law and governance by the European Commission (EC) gives a mixed picture on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) anti-corruption efforts, judicial independence, media freedom, and legislative practices. The EC’s Rule of Law Report 2024, its 5th, included assessments of developments in Bulgaria, Czechia,

Romania tops inflation list, Latvia rate flattens

Romania tops inflation list, Latvia rate flattens

Romania reported the highest inflation rate in May, of 5.8%, driven by significant increases in housing and utilities prices, according to the latest data from the EU’s official statistics agency Eurostat. Croatia experienced the second highest inflation in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), of 4.3%, driven primarily

CEE startups secure USD 11.8bn in Q1 despite global decline

CEE startups secure USD 11.8bn in Q1 despite global decline

Despite an overall downturn, the Central and Eastern European (CEE) start-up scene showed resilience in the first quarter of 2024, when it secured USD 11.8bn in investor funding. AI continues to attract significant interest, representing about 17% of global funding. Other key industries receiving investments in CEE include enterprise

Romania overtakes Hungary on PPP

Romania overtakes Hungary on PPP

Romanians have been consuming more than Hungarians, Budapest-based business website Portfolio writes, and now it has become clear why: wages were already higher in Romania than in Hungary last year. “Regarding purchasing power parity (PPP), 2023 was the first year when the wages of our eastern neighbour came before us,

IMF report shows CEE catching up on southern European neighbours

IMF report shows CEE catching up on southern European neighbours

Per capita income in Slovenia will surpass that of Italy by 2029 when adjusted for purchasing power (PPP), according to the latest International Monetary Fund (IMF) projections, while Lithuania will draw level and Poland will not be far behind. The shift makes good on promises that the Central and Eastern

Westinghouse increasingly central to CEE’s shift from Russian nuclear industry

Westinghouse increasingly central to CEE’s shift from Russian nuclear industry

US nuclear firm Westinghouse Electric Company has signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with 17 Bulgarian suppliers to support the construction of two AP1000 reactors at the nuclear power plant in Kozloduy, north Bulgaria, and received a permit to begin transitioning to using fuel it has produced. As well as Bulgaria,