Innovation in Bulgaria is gaining momentum. Two Bulgarian regions now rank among the Top 100 in an international index focused on innovation and competitiveness. Sofia ranks 69th out of 213 regions studied, while Varna Province takes 94th place. These results appear in the third edition of the Transatlantic Subnational Innovation Competitiveness Index. The report was published in September 2026 by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF).
An international ranking that needs context
The study compares 213 regions across 13 countries.
Therefore, it should not be interpreted as a comprehensive global ranking.
The countries covered include the United States, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Austria and Poland. Several Balkan countries are also represented.
Researchers assess 14 indicators, 13 of which contribute to the final ranking. They cover areas such as human capital, research, entrepreneurship, patents and digital infrastructure. A fourteenth indicator measures artificial intelligence preparedness. However, it is analysed separately and does not contribute to the final score.
Sofia, the driving force behind innovation in Bulgaria
Sofia confirms its central role in innovation in Bulgaria.
First, the Bulgarian capital stands out for the high level of education among its population.
Indeed, 55% of people aged 25 to 64 hold a higher education degree. This puts Sofia in 3rd place among all the regions studied for this indicator.
Only Budapest and the Warsaw metropolitan region perform better.
Sofia also performs particularly well in digital infrastructure.
The capital ranks first for broadband adoption, with 98.6% of households connected.
This performance also reflects the concentration of Bulgaria’s innovation ecosystem in Sofia. The capital is home to numerous universities, research centres and technology companies.
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences also plays an important role. In addition, Sofia has developed a growing venture capital and digital ecosystem.
Varna also enters the Top 100
Varna also records a notable performance.
The Province of Varna ranks 94th out of the 213 regions studied.
As a result, it joins Sofia among the Top 100 regions in the index.
This suggests that innovation in Bulgaria is not limited entirely to the capital. Varna is gradually strengthening its economic and technological position on the Black Sea coast.
Innovation in Bulgaria still faces strong regional disparities
However, the report also highlights some of Bulgaria’s weaknesses.
Sofia continues to perform significantly better than many other Bulgarian regions. In other words, innovation in Bulgaria remains highly concentrated geographically.
The authors also point to the country’s difficulties in converting skills and investment into productivity gains. This is particularly visible in manufacturing. In fact, nine of the ten regions with the lowest manufacturing productivity levels in the ranking are Bulgarian.
The result shows that Bulgaria has real innovation potential, but that this potential is still unevenly distributed across the country.
A positive signal for innovation in Bulgaria
Despite these disparities, the presence of Sofia and Varna in the Top 100 remains a positive sign.
It confirms the growing importance of Bulgaria’s main urban centres in the digital economy, research and European innovation.
Sofia is clearly the country’s main innovation hub. Meanwhile, Varna is beginning to strengthen its position.
The next challenge will be to determine whether this momentum can spread to other Bulgarian regions.
Source: Transatlantic Subnational Innovation Competitiveness Index 3.0, ITIF, September 2026.
