Biography

Zoya Damianova is the Executive Director of the Applied Research and Communications Fund, overseeing the research activities of the organization and monitoring their adherence to the highest ethical and scientific standards. Zoya is a dynamic leader with a proven track record of strategic partnerships and high-impact research and innovation projects, and a passionate advocate for science, technology, and sustainable innovation.

Zoya Damianova joined ARC Fund in 1996. During her tenure at ARC Fund she has directly coordinated or contributed in an expert capacity to more than 70 projects.

She has been regularly invited as an external expert by DG RTD of the European Commission. She has been a member of several expert groups, established by DG Research and Innovation, among which are: FOR-RIS working group (foresight and regional innovation strategies) under the initiative “Blueprints for foresight actions in the regions” (2004), the Third Foresight Working Group at the EU Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR FEG3), May 2010 – March 2011; the International STI Cooperation Expert Group, DG Research and Innovation, Jan – Sept 2012, and an expert group tasked with identifying cross-sectoral research priorities at the junction of health, environment and bio-economy (2014-2015).