R&D Tax Incentives: A new OECD-style comparison shows big gaps in Europe’s R&D tax relief for profitable firms, from Denmark’s ~1% to Portugal’s ~39%, while Bulgaria (and several others) shows no significant expenditure-based R&D tax relief. AI Identity & Trust: NEC and Ava Labs signed an MoU to push biometric verifiable credentials for “on-chain” services, aiming to strengthen identity, authority checks, and fraud prevention as AI agents transact. Deepfake Defense: Canadian deepidv teamed with Scam.AI to share datasets and integrate deepfake detection into a Chrome plugin and an API, targeting faster updates for synthetic-media fraud. Education Tech in the Danube Region: BEAD project partners in Silistra and Calarasi built hybrid learning labs and shared digital resources for cross-border training, including digital and intercultural skills. Healthcare Capacity (EU data): Eurostat reports Bulgaria has the highest hospital-bed ratio in the EU (870 per 100,000), while long-term care beds remain low. STEM Spotlight: Bulgaria won five medals at the International Physics Olympiad in Colombia (4 silver, 1 bronze). Local Tech & Industry: The Bulgarian Industrial Association says vocational admissions should match local employer needs, not just student interest. High-Tech Economy: Bosch says it will gradually wind down its Engineering Center Sofia, while keeping a presence via Bosch Digital.