Open calls

In connection with the approval of the assessment of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the Council of the European Union issued recommendations to Bulgaria in the context of the European Semester, recommending that investments be focused on the green and digital transition, in particular in the area of clean and efficient production and use of energy and resources. The second thematic focus of the NRP is the digital transition. Digital technologies are having a profound impact on the way we live and do business. Member States must have the capacity to benefit from an increasingly digital society and to address the challenges it brings. The systematic focus of research and innovation on key priorities for achieving sustainable growth is crucial for a more productive and green economy, applying the latest achievements of digital technologies.

A project to enhance the innovation capacity of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) has been developed under Component 2 of the National RRP. One of the investment measures is to support its research staff through specialization and knowledge exchange in key areas of development as part of the efforts to support the country's dual transition. This undoubtedly includes the deployment of the research potential of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the consolidation of the international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach at a high level in the thematic focus of the RRP, which includes areas that would support and accelerate technology transfer in the country.

A critical factor for the success of the innovation process in the country is the availability of qualified scientific personnel with skills in the field of applied research and innovation. Therefore, the deployment of the research potential of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in this area is of utmost importance. Therefore, measures are planned under the procedure, the main goal of which are to increase the skills and qualifications of the research staff of the BAS units in the field of green and digital technologies, as well as in the field of innovation by strengthening international and intersectoral exchange.

Applicants and final recipients of funding under the procedure are the independent research units of the BAS, which research staff will participate in the activities under the project proposal. The expected result of the implementation of the investment is to increase the qualification and build highly qualified specialists with skills and competencies to work and contribute to the successful implementation of the green and digital transition. The absorption of experience in innovation practices of leading foreign centers in thematic areas of the investment will help create a favorable environment for implementing technology transfer. This creates prerequisites for improved communication between scientific organizations and business operators, increased efficiency of innovation processes. The implementation of the measure is expected to improve the ecosystem for scientific research and innovation in response to the needs of enterprises and society for specialists to implement the green transition and digital transformation as a key condition for sustainable development.