{"id":68867,"date":"2026-09-29T09:41:57","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T06:41:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bas.bg\/?p=68867"},"modified":"2026-10-01T09:46:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T06:46:00","slug":"the-era-chair-in-bulgaria-calls-for-project-sustainability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bas.bg\/?p=68867&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"The ERA Chair in Bulgaria calls for project sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The experience, strategic prospects and challenges facing three key projects of BAS were presented at an event held in the \u201cProf. Marin Drinov\u201d Hall of the Academy. The projects are funded under the ERA Chair scheme of the European Union\u2019s \u201cHorizon Europe\u201d programme. Aimed at politicians, the media, decision-makers in the public sector and the research community, the event highlighted the sustainability of the modern research teams established, opportunities for future partnerships and the role of the ERA Chair instrument in the long-term development of scientific capacity in Bulgaria and the region. Their teams also put forward a joint position on the funding and sustainability of top-tier research groups in Bulgaria.<\/p>\n

The President of BAS, Corresponding Member Evelina Slavcheva, opened the event and said that the main aim of those important projects was to enhance scientific capacity, attract world-renowned scientists and young researchers, raise the international profile of science and, at the same time, open up new horizons \u2013 to initiate research in new fields in which Bulgaria had not previously conducted scientific research. The three projects being carried out at the Institute of Molecular Biology, the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies and the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of BAS are attracting European funding of over 7 million euros and have succeeded in bringing together teams of established scientists, including foreign researchers, explained Corr. Memb. Slavcheva.<\/p>\n

Sustainability is mandatory and forms part of the requirements of the programmes under which the projects are funded, the President of BAS explained. This is precisely where the cause for concern lies because there is no guaranteed national funding and no functioning mechanisms in place. Our task today is to discuss the proposals relating to future funding opportunities and to issue an appeal to the Bulgarian government to provide mechanisms for the further development of the teams that have been set up.<\/p>\n

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Prof. Vassil Kirov, Chair of the General Assembly of BAS and coordinator of the ProSkills2Work project<\/p><\/div>\n

A working meeting was held as part of the event during which specific ideas were discussed. Participants included the Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Academician Nikolay Vitanov; the Director of the Bulgarian National Science Fund, Prof. Yuri Kalvachev; Members of Parliament; and representatives from the business and academic communities.<\/p>\n

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In the \u201cProf. Marin Drinov\u201d Hall, the three teams presented the research capacity they had built up to date – the researchers they had recruited, new research groups, equipment, international partnerships and project proposals they had prepared.<\/p>\n

VIDEO OF THE PRESENTATION<\/a><\/p>\n

ERA Chair is an instrument under the <\/em>\u201c<\/em>Horizon Europe<\/em>\u201d<\/em> programme, specifically the <\/em>\u201c<\/em>Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence<\/em>\u201d<\/em> sub-programme. It provides financial support to universities and research organisations in countries with less developed research capacity to attract established international researchers in the spirit of the European Research Area (ERA). The aim is to establish, on a sustainable basis, highly qualified research teams that are integrated into the host institution and seek to enhance research output, international visibility and the capacity to attract European and national funding.<\/em><\/p>\n

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