EBRD deepens Bulgaria partnership with launch of Sofia tech hub

• Host country agreement paves way for expanded EBRD presence in Bulgaria
• New Tech Sofia hub to recruit over 100 technology professionals
• Move reflects strategy to decentralise operations and be closer to clients

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the government of Bulgaria, which last year signed a host country agreement that strengthens their long-standing partnership and sets the framework for expanding the Bank’s presence in the country, today launched a technology hub at the EBRD’s new Sofia office.

Opened by EBRD Vice President, Banking, Matteo Patrone, alongside senior EBRD management and Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Poulev, the EBRD’s Tech Sofia centre reflects the Bank’s intention to grow its operational footprint in the country and deepen engagement with local clients and partners.

The EBRD has begun recruiting IT professionals at Tech Sofia, with 51 already joined and plans to grow to over 100. The move builds on Bulgaria’s strong and competitive technology ecosystem and reinforces Sofia’s role as a regional innovation hub.

“This represents the fulfilment of a key strategic aim – to decentralise so we can be closer to our clients. Expanding our presence in Bulgaria, including through this new technology hub, will strengthen our ability to deliver impact where it matters most,” said Mr Patrone, who is making his first visit to Bulgaria in his current role, accompanied by Grzegorz Zielinski, the EBRD’s new Managing Director for South-Eastern Europe.

The EBRD is a key institutional investor in Bulgaria. In 2025, it invested €295 million in 17 projects, up from €272 million in 2024 and a significant increase from the last five-year average. The Bank is a major supporter of Bulgaria’s green transition, led by the private sector, and plays a significant role in the provision of venture and growth equity capital.

The EBRD has been active in Bulgaria since 1991 and has invested more than €5 billion in over 320 projects across the country. In Bulgaria, the EBRD focusses on making local firms more competitive at home and abroad, financing modern, sustainable infrastructure, and developing financial products and capital markets, as the country adopts the euro.