The Patent Office will hold an online meeting on 2 November on direct funding for micro, small and medium-sized businesses, the office said. It runs from 1:30pm to 2:30pm.

The meeting will cover support under the Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises Programme 2021-2027. Participants will learn how the funding helps businesses register and keep rights to patents, utility models, trademarks and industrial designs.

Experts from the office will explain what support is available, who can apply and which costs qualify. There will be time for questions.

Speakers are deputy chair Maya Filipova-Demireva, Galya Aygarova, head of the Examination and Protection of Inventions, Utility Models and Industrial Designs directorate, and Dr Nikolay Bratov, head of the Examination and Opposition of Trademarks and Geographical Indications directorate.

The office said the meeting is suitable for businesses, industrial property representatives, lawyers, research organisations and universities, as well as bodies that support entrepreneurship, innovation and local economic development. The link to join, details of the application terms and sample documents are in the office's announcement.

The announcement is part of a partnership between BTA and the Patent Office. In their joint series "Made in Bulgaria", each week will feature Bulgarians listed in the Patent Office's "Golden Book" and the work of the office.