If we had to describe 2025 in one word for the PARAi community, it would be “scale”. Our survey showed that Bulgarian companies sold 277 robots in 2025. Such a volume would have been unthinkable only a few years ago. Something else also happened that, until recently, would have seemed impossible: for the first time, we saw humanoid robots on our streets and in our production halls, being trained for specific tasks in a Bulgarian environment.
Scale was also evident in the growth of local technology champions. Shelly Group celebrated a historic achievement, reaching a market capitalization of €1 billion and a presence in more than 100 markets. In parallel with this breakthrough, Ross Diankov and Mujin completed one of the largest funding rounds in global robotics, raising $233 million, while Asset Insider began managing the lifecycle of 600,000 assets in the faraway Asia-Pacific region.
2025 showed that Bulgaria can not only develop technologies, but also manufacture them at scale. The global leader in robotic surgery, Intuitive, chose Bulgaria as a manufacturing base. This industrial confidence also extended to the energy sector, where IPS moved from concept to serial production of giant 8-megawatt-hour battery systems. Meanwhile, while work was in full swing in the factories, Simobotics earned recognition from their peers on the major European stage during the European Robotics Forum 2025, proving that Bulgarian robotic solutions stand alongside the best in Europe.
Scale was also visible in science. Bulgaria’s INSAIT created the foundational model SPEAR-1, which gives robots three-dimensional spatial intelligence. Through spatial intelligence, SPEAR-1 turns machines from tools into assistants. The technology is open and will be available free of charge to researchers and companies around the world.
When a Bulgarian company surpasses a billion-euro valuation, a Bulgarian foundational model gives vision to robots across Europe, and a Bulgarian battery manufacturing project receives strategic status from the European Commission, it becomes clear that scale is no longer a distant goal, but a possible reality.
The next step is clear: bolder investments, deeper integration between science and industry, and an even more focused effort to build competitive manufacturing capabilities. 2025 showed that Bulgaria has the potential. From here on, the question is how we will turn this momentum into a lasting legacy.
These examples are only part of the sector’s dynamic development. Many more follow. Enjoy reading HERE!
Yonko Chuklev
Deputy Chair of the Board of PARAi
