In recent years, modern society has faced a number of challenges related to the achievement of global goals for sustainable development. Industrial enterprises are challenged to generate, stimulate, and demand changes in networks and supply chains, but these challenges require flexibility and innovation activity in different directions. The data for Bulgaria show that the country is last among the countries of the European Union in terms of the creation and implementation of eco-innovations. Despite this result, the pace at which the country is developing shows that in the next few years, Bulgaria has the potential to move from a modest to a moderate eco-innovator, provided that it succeeds in filling the structural gaps in the system of ecological innovation. These gaps are related not only to the need for changes in the investment of resources but also to the need for changes in individual and related systems such as science and innovation, support for SMEs, the energy system, etc. Most of the research on sustainable innovation and eco-innovation has, however, focused on firm innovation models dominated by short-term profit-maximizing approaches. Therefore, there is a need to conduct research and propose adequate strategies for modern business environments and design models that facilitate the implementation of eco-innovations in industrial enterprises. The purpose of this report is to investigate the factors influencing the development of eco-innovation activities of Bulgarian industrial enterprises, examining how they can help to achieve success through eco-innovation and improve business results. A factorial model is proposed, through which the relationships between technological, financial, organizational, informational resources, research and development activities (R&D), and company cooperation are analyzed. The PLS structural equation modeling technique was used to validate the proposed theoretical model. The survey was conducted among 380 industrial enterprises from all over the sectors of the economy in Bulgaria with the help of a specially developed questionnaire within the period of April 2019 to December 2021. The obtained results show that human resources, financial resources, and cooperation positively influence research and development activities. In addition, the achievement of a positive effect on the management of eco-innovations affects the innovation activities of industrial enterprises, their ability to carry out research and development activities, as well as their ability to manage the technical and technological resources at their disposal effectively. Finally, the innovation activity aimed at carrying out scientific research and development activity, products and processes obtained as a result of the eco-innovation activity, and adequate information management directly affect the efficiency of business processes and financial results.

The rapid development of digital technologies in recent years has led to digital transformation of business and business processes. Faced with new dynamic business models and growing competition in its markets, many companies face the need for a comprehensive review of their existing strategies. Digitization plays a key role in this process, and digital technologies and the opportunities they create are the driving force for success in an increasingly digital society. As a result of digital transformation, business processes, decision making, interaction with partners and end-users are facilitated. It is essential for the growth and development of organizations that management should decide on the consistency, scope and scale for making digital-based changes.

The growth of the planet’s population requires the application of innovative technological solutions for its nutrition. Artificial intelligence, as part of the technological toolkit of Industry 4.0, having a strong transforming effect in modern society, is perceived as a strategic factor for increasing productivity, efficiency and innovation in a number of sectors, including the food industry. The global food and beverage artificial intelligence market in 2021 is valued at USD 4.49 billion. It is expected to grow at a CAGR (average annual rate) of 45.4% to reach US$ 83.4 billion by 2029. The main goal of every industrial enterprise in the food industry is to produce high-quality products at the lowest possible cost. The application of AI can contribute to maintaining a higher quality of the manufactured product, through rapid quality control and visualization of the result. AI can aggregate and analyze data in real-time making recommendations to improve operational activities, can analyze data, uncover trends and recommend actions to increase efficiency. The result of the implementation of artificial intelligence in the food industry contributes to driving the growth of the market.

Recent environmental changes challenge world agriculture and reconfirm the importance of wild flora as useful source of valuable traits. Due to their extreme desiccation tolerance, the so called “Resurrection plants” are extensively studied and characterized. The Bulgarian endemic species Haberlea rhodopensis, apart from its typical resurrection capacity is very interesting also as a potential source of bioactive compounds with putative application in pharmacology, veterinary medicine and cosmetics. Here we discuss our approaches to Haberlea in the frames of the NSF funded project DO02–105 “Centre for sustainable development of plant and animal genomics “.