A new demonstration centre for business engagement of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences was opened today in the refurbished Block 29A of the Academy’s Scientific Complex 1. The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences has completed the investment project “Enhancing the innovation capacity of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in the field of green and digital technologies” under Component 2 “Scientific Research and Innovation” of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), which was later renamed “Investment in the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences”, said Prof. Neli Koseva, Scientific Secretary-General of the BAS. The value of the investment is €26,802,675, she announced. We are proud that we have succeeded in creating a complex that brings together scientific research, communication and demonstration and that we can present results, hold meetings and initiate new projects, thereby fostering links between science and business, said Prof. Koseva.
I believe this building will be the venue for a host of productive meetings with business representatives and that we will be able to turn scientific findings into genuine innovations and, ultimately, into commercial products. Many people have worked hard to make this a reality, emphasised Corresponding Member Slavcheva, who thanked the teams and companies for the partnership they have built. The projects carried out under the Recovery and Resilience Plan are strictly focused on applied research and a large proportion of them have reached Technology Readiness Level 7, the President of BAS specified. She stated that the projects must be continued so that the next step towards Technology Readiness Level 9 can be taken and Bulgarian developments can be brought to market and implemented in industry.
During the event, the mayor of the Slatina municipality, Georgi Iliev, said that knowledge was what enables the state to endure. Tomislav Donchev, during whose term as Deputy Prime Minister the development of RRP began, thanked the teams involved in implementing the projects and noted that they had carried out their work to the highest standards. In recent years, BAS has proven that it can be a first-class partner to the state helping it to formulate better policies, he said.
Among the official guests were representatives of central and local government, project managers working in the framework of the investment of BAS, and partners.
During the opening ceremony, Prof. Neli Koseva presented detailed information on the implementation of the BAS investment in her presentation.
Central to the measures funded under the C2I2 investment are activities aimed at developing innovation technologies and products and enhancing their technological readiness. A total of 39 research and innovation projects, thematically focused on the green and digital transitions, have been completed.
Infrastructure improvements constitute a key activity within the framework of RRP. Two buildings in Scientific Complex 1 of BAS have been refurbished: Block 29a which has been transformed into a demonstration and communication centre, and Block 12 which has been converted into a functional infrastructure for applied research. Over 4,000 square metres of research space have been refurbished, and equipment has been supplied to 14 scientific units of BAS. The communications infrastructure has been upgraded with a high-speed fibre-optic internet network and enhanced security and protection.
Other activities carried out under RRP include measures for human capital development: building expert capacity, attracting and retaining talented researchers, enhancing qualifications through specialisation and the exchange of expertise, as well as upgrading the Joint Innovation Centre and the PhD Training Centre. The combined effect of these activities is the creation of better conditions for conducting scientific research and implementing the results obtained – a foundation for the development of innovations, technology transfer and interaction with the business sector.
