Publications

In 2025, the SustainX project progressed from conceptual framing to concrete, region-specific implementation work, with a strong focus on translating green and digital transition ambitions into operational regional pathways. A core pillar of this phase was the development of Regional Action Plans across five participating regions, each reflecting distinct innovation capacities, policy frameworks, and ecosystem maturity levels. Rather than producing static strategy documents, the project partners worked collaboratively to develop living action frameworks—designed to evolve, be fine-tuned, and...

The Innovation.bg 2025 report presents an up-to-date assessment of the state of the innovation system in Bulgaria, emphasizing the need for technological renewal, digital transformation, and strategic adaptation to the changing global context. Despite some positive trends, such as widespread access to high-speed internet, growth in the ICT sector, and the use of digital services, Bulgaria remains among the “emerging innovators” and, for another year, has failed to move into the more advanced group of “moderate innovators” in the EU. The country ranks 26th in the...

The Global Trade and Innovation Policy Alliance, which ARC Fund joined in 2025, has published its highly influential and important new report, “How America’s Trading Partners are Reacting to US Tariffs.” Presenting cases from 16 countries around the world, it provides a comprehensive overview of the ongoing global geoeconomics rebalancing. The Applied Research and Communications fund contributed with the piece on Bulgaria and its position within Europe. 
The full report is available on the website of the Global Trade and Innovation Policy Alliance.
Read here the contribution on Bulgaria. 

People over the age of 50 are becoming an increasingly large number of the population; consequently, they are also acquiring a significantly bigger role in the economic activity of both Bulgaria and other countries. Due to the prevalence of this phenomenon, the Applied Research and Communications team is focusing on the access of women in their silver age to the labour market through its participation in the project INSPIRE: Intersectional Spaces of Participation: Inclusive, Resilient, Embedded, financed under the Horizon Europe programme. In a broadcast by Radio Focus, sociologist Slavyanka...

With over 30 years of leadership in fostering innovation, international cooperation, and knowledge transfer, the Applied Research and Communications Fund (ARC Fund) has been a key driver of Europe and Bulgaria’s transition to a knowledge-based economy. We are proud to announce our membership in the Global Trade and Innovation Policy Alliance (GTIPA), a global network of over 50 leading think tanks dedicated to advancing innovation-driven, open, and evidence-based economic policies. At a time of growing global trade tensions and economic uncertainty, GTIPA promotes cooperation, productivity...