Find the Right BRAIN++ Access Route for Your Project
Compare project tiers, cost models, eligible applicant categories, scoring thresholds, and geographic eligibility to choose the best path for your AI initiative.
Compare the project tiers
Every project tier has a different cost model, participation structure, and minimum score.
| Project Tier | Eligible Applicants | Cost Model | Participation | Minimum Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Projects / Services | All eligible applicants | Always free | Never | 60 |
| Big Projects — Public / Research | Public institutions, research bodies, sovereign AI initiatives | Free | Never | 70 |
| Big Projects — Private Companies | Startups, SMEs, scale-ups | Market-investor participation | Yes | 70 |
| Strategic Projects | National or EU strategic initiatives | Free | No venture-style participation | 80 |
| Core Projects | Predefined BRAIN++ foundational projects | Programme funded | No venture-style participation | Predefined |
Who can apply to BRAIN++
BRAIN++ accepts applications from a broad range of innovators, institutions, and initiatives.
- Startups
- Early-stage companies
- SMEs
- Scale-ups
- Research and innovation teams
- Academic institutions
- Applied research organisations
- Public sector organisations
- Government-related organisations
- Sovereign AI initiatives
- Strategic AI initiatives
What your score means
Scores determine which project tiers and access routes are available to your application.
Below 60
Not approved.
60+
May qualify for Small Projects / Services.
70+
May qualify for Big Projects.
75+
Priority access candidate.
80+
May qualify for Strategic Projects.
85+
Strategic Fast-Track candidate.
Where BRAIN++ support is focused
BRAIN++ primarily supports Bulgaria, while also encouraging applications from South-East Europe and other EU Member States.
Where proposals are of equivalent quality, preference may be given to:
- Bulgarian projects
- South-East European projects
- Other EU Member State projects
Choose the right tier for your project
Use the descriptions below to identify the most suitable access route.
Choose Small Projects / Services if
- You are testing an early AI idea
- You need a short feasibility check
- You need limited compute or expert advice
- You do not yet have milestones or KPIs
- You want to explore whether a Big Project is suitable later
Choose Big Projects if
- You have a mature AI concept
- You need significant compute and expert support
- You can define milestones and KPIs
- You have a deployment or commercialisation pathway
- You need structured programme support
- You can commit to monitoring and reporting
Choose Strategic / Core if
- The project has national or European strategic significance
- The project contributes to sovereign AI capacity
- The project creates reusable public AI infrastructure
- The project has long-term ecosystem impact
- The project aligns strongly with BRAIN++ strategic priorities
Transparent evaluation and decision rules
BRAIN++ applies a structured evaluation process with clear scoring, decision rules, and governance principles.
Find the right BRAIN++ access route
Contact the BRAIN++ team to discuss your project, eligibility, and the most suitable tier for your initiative.