Bulgaria ranks among the best-performing countries globally in terms of conditions for the development of innovative businesses, according to the international Innovators Business Environment Index 2026 (IBEI).

The ranking covers 125 countries and assesses the entrepreneurial environment from the perspective of innovators and start-ups.

The Index analyses key factors influencing the creation and growth of innovative enterprises, including the regulatory framework, tax policy, access to financing, digital infrastructure, and the level of institutional stability. Unlike other global indices that measure the outcomes of start-up ecosystems, the IBEI focuses on the underlying conditions that enable those outcomes.

Bulgaria ranks:

• 18th globally
• 10th in Europe

The country demonstrates particularly strong performance in the area of business incentives, ranking:

• 1st in the European Union
• 5th globally

These results are driven by a competitive tax policy and strong access to financing, which together create a favourable environment for the development of innovative companies.

With an overall score of 73.631 points, Bulgaria ranks:

• 2nd in Central and Eastern Europe
• 1st in the Balkans

The Index measures country performance across three key dimensions:

• Business Incentives – 79.126
• Favourable Business Environment – 79.388
• Market Perception – 60.329

The report notes that Bulgaria has potential for further improvement in the areas of regulation and institutional effectiveness, which could further strengthen its position in the future.

The top-ranking countries in the Index include the United States, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, which provide the most conducive environments for innovation. The analysis also highlights that digital infrastructure is a key factor for achieving high rankings.

More info: Innovators Business Environment Index (IBEI) 2026