The Ministry of the Economy, Energy and Tourism – the managing authority of Operational Programme (OP) “Development of the Competitiveness of the Bulgarian Economy” 2007-2013, in partnership with Enterprise Europe Network-Bulgaria at the Applied Research and Communication Fund held an Innovation forum on 26 July 2010.
The forum was to provoke a discussion on how to increase the absorption of funds under priority 1 of the OP – “Development of economy based on knowledge and innovation” and how to optimize the support for innovation in accordance with the needs of the Bulgarian enterprises and the current trends and priorities in the development of innovation policy in the country.
The forum was attended by representatives of the scientific community, industry, business, consulting and non-governmental organizations working in the field of innovation and having a key role in the development and implementation of the Bulgarian innovation policy.
Valuable proposals were made during the forum concerning the possibilities for improving the operation of OP “Competitiveness” and its innovation support schemes so as to make the Programme a working tool.
The Innovation Forum under OP “Competitiveness” was opened by Mr. Traycho Traykov, Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism. He clearly stated that innovation is a source of growth and competitiveness for the economy. Therefore the ministry aims to make available to the Bulgarian companies financial resources for innovation to the amount of millions of euros. Minister Traykov stressed that in long-term perspective innovations take a central place for the development of the business. In its economic strategy, the Bulgarian government has set three main priority sectors – information technologies, eco-technologies and services related to health. The Minister of Economy reminded that the government has set as national goal for 2020 funding for research and development and commercialization of innovations to reach 2% of GDP, compared to the current 0.65%.
Moreover, “…for the first time the state will subsidize up to 50% on R&D priority projects approved by the government” said the Minister. Mr Traykov also announced that the work on a special Law on the National Innovation Fund has begun, and that “in coherence with the EU policies the government supports the Bulgarian participation in the Enterprise Europe Network – the EU’s largest network to assist SMEs to introducing innovations and making technology transfers”.
