Science and society
The Applied Research and Communications Fund facilitates public, multi-actor deliberative processes on societal challenges stemming from research and innovation. Responsible research and innovation are closely linked to sustainable development and thus represent a horizontal topic in the research studies conducted by ARC Fund.
Focal areas of our research are energy transition, energy citizenship and renewable energy, access of vulnerable societal groups to the labor market, public engagement in policy design, technology assessment of the impact of new technology on society, economy and environment, as well as workplace innovations and public-sector innovations.
Policy conference, 19 Oct 2023, Brussels
In the period 29 – 30 June 2023, ARC Fund and Sofia Development Association organized a policy-learning workshop on the topic “Transformative visions for territorial development”, within the project Leveraging Leadership for Responsible Research and Innovation in Territories, funded by Horizon 2020 program. Integration of responsible research and innovation in territorial policymaking was in the focus of the discussions among experts from Switzerland, Denmark, Spain, Greece and Bulgaria, Norway, Belgium and Germany. Representatives of the municipalities of Sofia (Bulgaria), Sabadell...
In the last months, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) and experts from ARC Fund have collected and analysed good European and international practices for monitoring and evaluation of public policies and programs. On the basis of a developed list of strategic, programme and other related documents at national, regional and sectoral level, indicators and metrics have been identified against which research policy assessments have been established. As a result of the good practices, a new methodology was developed to evaluate the implementation of the Operational...
Research and innovation have an essential role to play in creating and sustaining an inclusive, competitive and resilient Europe, by increasing the sustainability of manufacturing sectors, making the economy more competitive and increasing cooperation between science, government and business. As a result of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine, Bulgaria is facing medium to long-term labour shortages, as well as a lack of necessary skills and competences among its human capital, caused by an ageing population and high level of emigration. The wide spreading demographic crisis is a key challenge...
February 14, 2023
2 min read
On 5 July at 11:00 an online meeting was held to present the results of the project “Promoting innovation in the workplace among SMEs in Bulgaria: analysis and recommendations”. During the meeting we presented: What are workplace innovations and where can we find more information about them? Why is this project important? What were the main activities of the project? What public support measures did we outline to promote workplace innovation among SMEs in the country? Participants had the opportunity to ask questions about the results achieved within the project. Many expressed...
On 5 July at 11:00 an online meeting will be held to present the results of the project “Promoting innovation in the workplace among SMEs in Bulgaria: analysis and recommendations”. During the meeting you will find out: What are workplace innovations and where can you find more information about them? Why is this project important and what has it contributed? What were the main activities of the project? What public support measures did we outline to support workplace innovation among SMEs in the country? What next? To register, please complete the following form (registration...
On 30 June 2021 at 11:00 a.m. an information seminar was held on the project “Promoting innovation in the workplace among small and medium-sized enterprises in Bulgaria: analysis and recommendations” The event was aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises in the country, who had the opportunity to learn more about the nature of innovation in the workplace, as well as the benefits of their implementation in enterprises. During the meeting, public support measures to foster innovation at the workplace were discussed, developed as a result of consultations with various stakeholders...
Sofia Energy Agency (SOFENA) and Active Consumers Association, organized an online workshop “Sustainable Impact of Energy Efficiency Measures on Consumer Behaviour – Challenges and Solutions”. The meeting was attended by 24 participants, representatives of the Agency for Sustainable Energy Development, Energy Agency Plovdiv, Sofiaplan, For the Earth, Sofia Energy Center, Center for Sustainable Housing, Faculty of Economics at Sofia University, EnEffect, National Trust Eco Fund, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund and Green Sofia. The event took place within the...
Tips to reduce energy consumption at home by changing habits – findings and results from the Energy Living Labs.
Please read more in this press release.
October 3, 2019
1 min read
A new book ‘Energy Demand Challenges in Europe: Implication for policy, planning and practice’, co-edited by Dr Frances Fahy and Dr Gary Goggins from the National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, was published by Palgrave MacMillan. It is an open access publication and can be freely downloaded from Springer. The book examines the role of citizens in sustainable energy transitions across Europe, with cases from Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Switzerland, and United Kingdom. The chapters provide short and readable summaries of...
