PROF. PETROVA: ACCESS TO EUROPEAN FUNDING FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SHOULD BE IMPROVED

The framework programmes for stimulating scientific research and innovation in the EU should have less technical requirements for applicants and improve the access of Bulgarian higher education institutions and scientific organizations to them. The Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Prof. Genka Petrova-Tashkova, called for this during an informal meeting of the Council on Competitiveness (Part “Scientific Research and Innovation”) in Brussels. According to her, it is also necessary to reduce the innovation divide by financing projects in the EU. A number of new instruments of the programmes for expanding the participation of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as for the additional inclusion of new participants, should be more clearly described in order to enable the participation of more higher education institutions and scientific organizations from the CEE countries.

The Belgian Presidency is committed to promoting scientific research as a key tool for solving the global challenges facing the EU. EU Member States, together with Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the UK, discussed the transformative nature of research and how technological developments can accelerate the decarbonisation of industry and strengthen the EU’s competitiveness.

Within the Council, the Bulgarian delegation held bilateral meetings with the European Commission, the Hungarian and Romanian delegations. Current issues regarding the European research policy and opportunities for Bulgarian higher education institutions were discussed with Commissioner Iliana Ivanova. With the Hungarian Minister of State for Culture and Innovation, they discussed the priorities of the upcoming Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU in the field of scientific research. Opportunities for strengthening cooperation between Bulgaria and Romania were discussed with Minister Ivan Bogdan-Guria.

The informal meeting of the Council was followed by a ministerial conference on “Multilateral Dialogue on Principles and Values ​​for International Cooperation in Research and Innovation”. The conference brought together the ministers and their representatives responsible for science, research and innovation in the EU, partner countries, as well as representatives of UNESCO, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Council for Science.

Prof. Petrova noted the leading role of principles and values ​​in international cooperation in the field of science and innovation for the development of modern societies throughout the world.