Bulgaria signed a grant agreement in November 2022 for its national Quantum Communication Infrastructure (QCI) plan under the European Commission’s Digital Europe Programme (DEP). According to the BG QCI project page, the project applied for EUR 10 million in funding, with the EU reimbursing 50% of actual expenditure.
Led by the Institute of Robotics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) through the Centre of Competence QUASAR, the project assembled a consortium including Enterprise Communications Group, Electron Progress, and Correct Consulting Group, along with associated partners such as the State Agency for National Security and Sofia Municipality. QUASAR was designated Bulgaria’s competent national body for EuroQCI.
Under the grant agreement, the consortium would deploy Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems and develop networks combining quantum and classical security technologies. A metropolitan QCI network in Sofia was planned to connect the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Transport, and the Ministry of Defence, with a second long-distance route extending approximately 280 km from Sofia to the Greek border.