At the end of 2023, Ratio was appointed by the European Space Agency (ESA) to serve as the Industrial Coordinator (IC) for Bulgaria. The Industrial Coordinator will be the liaison between the ESA Country Desk Officer and Bulgarian entities interested in the space sector, in coordination also with the Bulgarian Ministry of “Innovation and Growth”.
The Industrial Coordinator acts independently as a central communication point to promote and foster the awareness on the opportunities available to Bulgarian entities to work in space. The IC will also assist and advise Bulgarian entities on how to best take advantage of the opportunities to work with ESA.
The IC also serves as an advisor to the ESA Country Desk Officer to improve the knowledge on the Bulgarian space sector and can help draw the attention to specific key interest points for Bulgarian organizations.
Meet the Coordinator
Ratio’s Founder Liubomir Baburov will serve as Bulgaria’s Industrial Coordinator. His extensive experience with science and technology as the lead of Ratio, as well as his business experience in multi-million revenue companies is a blend that will serve the needs for both research organizations and startups.
Ratio’s Program Director Sylvia Djoneva will be supporting the project as a Coordinator Aid. Her focus on detail and experience in organization and communication will be an asset to the day-to-day operations and information dissemination for Bulgarian entities.
Our past experience in communication and information dissemination, as well as the knowledge of the ESA PECS internal processes, will be a key asset in view of successfully performing the IC role.
You can reach out to the Industrial Coordinator and the Coordinator Aid at esa@ratio.bg.
Our Goals
We will be working to improve the ability of Bulgarian entities to win contracts with ESA under the current PECS program, which will also position them to win bids in the variety of programs that will become available in the future when Bulgaria moves to the next stages of its journey to become an ESA Member State.
We will also foster long-term cooperation between different entities, both on a national and international level, opening up new opportunities for Bulgarian organizations. A final crucial part of our work will be directed toward human resources development, knowledge, and capacity building.
Planned Activities
The goals set are multi-faceted, and they will require a number of activities for us to conduct. This includes facilitating meetings between Bulgarian entities and ESA members, sharing information on available training courses and potential tender prospects, as well as individual support for entities interested in ESA opportunities when it comes to proposal writing, project planning, and more.
We will also work on expanding our contact network and using that for matchmaking between Bulgarian entities and international partners, as well as developing local networking opportunities and building roads to collaboration.
We will use this space to announce upcoming activities and opportunities for Bulgarian entities. If you’d like to learn first when these come up, subscribe to our mailing list:
Upcoming Activities
We’ll use this space to announce new activities that may be of interest to Bulgarian entities.
ESA Information Day for the 11th Call for Proposals under PEEKD in Varna
The Ministry of Innovation and Growth and the European Space Agency (ESA) are organizing an event in Varna on 19.09.25 aimed at businesses in the region. The event will present new opportunities for companies and organizations interested in the space sector. The host of the event will be the Nikola Yonkov Vaptsarov Naval Academy. The event is part of the information campaign related to the 11th call for proposals under PEEKD – a program providing Bulgarian organizations with the opportunity to receive funding for space-related projects.
Participants will receive concrete guidance on how to successfully apply for ESA open calls and will hear practical advice on preparing project proposals. Individual meetings with ESA representatives for personalized consultations are also expected.
The program will include:
• Official opening by the Ministry of Innovation and Growth;
• Detailed briefing on the conditions and focus of the 11th PEEKD call;
• Practical advice on preparing a strong project proposal;
• Presentation of successful Bulgarian PEEKD projects;
• Opportunity for individual meetings with ESA representatives;
The event is an excellent opportunity for companies, startups, research organizations, and universities seeking support and partnerships in the field of space technologies, applications, and services. The event will be held in English.
Upcoming ESA Event for the 11th Call for Proposals under PEEKD in Sofia
On September 17, 2025, Sofia will host an event for Bulgarian companies and organizations interested in the space sector. The information day for the 11th call for proposals under PEEKD – a program of the European Space Agency (ESA) – will take place at Sofia Tech Park. The session is organized by the Ministry of Innovation and Growth in partnership with ESA.
The event will bring together representatives from business and academia who will learn about the opportunities offered by the new call for proposals, how to successfully prepare a proposal, and how to benefit from the experience of already successful Bulgarian projects.
The program will include:
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Official opening by the Ministry of Innovation and Growth;
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Detailed briefing on the conditions and focus of the 11th PEEKD call;
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Practical advice on preparing a strong project proposal;
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Presentation of successful Bulgarian PEEKD projects;
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Good examples of projects from other countries;
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Opportunity for individual meetings with ESA representatives;
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Networking with other organizations from Bulgaria and abroad.
Participation is an excellent opportunity for companies, startups, research organizations, and universities seeking support and partnerships in the field of space technologies, applications, and services. The event will be held in English.
Applications Open for ESA’s Graduate Trainee Programme 2025!
The European Space Agency (ESA) has launched applications for its Graduate Trainee Programme 2025, offering recent graduates a unique opportunity to kick-start their careers in the space sector. Participants will work for one year in various technical and administrative fields, gaining hands-on experience in an international environment.
The application deadlines for individual positions vary and will remain open throughout February!
ESA Information Session Comes to Plovdiv for the First Time
On April 22, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Bulgarian Ministry of Innovation and Growth will host a special event in Plovdiv focused on business opportunities and development in the space sector in the region.
The event will be opened by Prof. Georgi Angelov, Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth, and will highlight the prospects for Bulgarian businesses in the space sector, along with guidance on participating in ESA’s upcoming 2025 procurement procedures for Bulgaria.
Key highlights from the program include:
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A presentation on the PECS program and practical business advice from an ESA representative;
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Announcement of new collaboration opportunities for 2025;
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Case studies from successful Bulgarian space projects in the region;
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One-on-one meeting opportunities with ESA experts.
ESA invites the space community to a conference on new opportunities in the sector
The European Space Agency (ESA) is organizing a conference dedicated to exploring new opportunities in the European space sector. The event will take place on May 14-15, 2025, in Frascati, Italy, and aims to foster international collaboration and create partnerships between experienced players and newcomers in the space industry.
With a focus on representatives from European Cooperating States (Bulgaria, Malta, Cyprus, Croatia), associated countries (Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia), and new member states (Slovenia), the event will feature presentations and discussions led by speakers from ESA, industry, and institutional partners across Europe. Registration opens on January 10, 2025, and closes on February 28, 2025.
Associate membership in the European Space Agency is not an end in itself.
An interview with Lubomir Baburov in front of BTA about the role of the Industrial Coordinator in Bulgaria.
“Space is no longer a closed zone between government agencies and high-powered companies. It is now available to medium-sized companies and even small businesses.” As coordinator for Bulgaria, we aim to connect public and private entities. It all depends on good sync and coordination between business and the public sector.
