SUPPORT FOR THE INNOVATIONS Dr. Dimitar Radev Executive Director REGIONAL AGENCY FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATIONS – VARNA

RAPIV ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION Regional Agency for Entrepreneurship and Innovations- Varna (RAPIV) is a non-governmental utilitarian non-profit organization, carrying out its activities in public benefit, for stimulating regional economy, through the development of entrepreneurship and innovations. The organisation is established in 2002.

RAPIV  Local Authorities: The Municipality of Varna; District Administration – Varna; The Municipality of Aksakovo;  Four Universities in the city of Varna;  Scientific and Research Institutes;  Non-governmental branch organizations;  Innovative companies;  Bank. MEMBERS OF RAPIV

RAPIV MAIN ACTIVITIES  High-Technology Business Incubator  Centre for Innovations and Technology Transfer  Establishment of a High-Technology Business Park

RAPIV HIGH-TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS INCUBATOR - VARNA  Information and Communication Technologies;  Technologies for protection of the environment and the sustainable development (incl. alternative energy);  Advanced marine technologies;  Medical and Pharmaceutical Products and technologies. PRIORITIES FOR THE ADMISSION OF COMPANIES

RAPIV INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTRE PRIORITIES  Regional Innovation policy;  Technology transfer;  Innovation services for SMEs;  Regional investments.

RAPIV REGIONAL INNOVATION POLICY  Partners: RAPIV, coordinator of the project; Alliance of the District Governors of NEPR; Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works; University of West Macedonia, Greece; Regional administration of Region Liguria, Italy; Regional administration of Region Abruzzo, Italy.  Duration: 32 months ( – ).  Budget: Euro. Project № NE - BG RIS, “Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS) for the North-East Planning Region (NEPR)” is carried out within 6 th Framework Programme of the EC.

RAPIV REGIONAL INNOVATION STRATEGY The principle of horizontality has been applied in the proposed measures, activities and projects, for setting up and development of an effective Innovation system in the region. 43 projects to be realized, 7 of which are pilot projects.

RAPIV PRIORITY 1: DEVELOPMENT OF THE INNOVATION POTENTIAL OF THE REGION FOR INCREASING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THE ECONOMY PRIORITY 2: CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRO-INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENT (INCLUDING INFRASTRUCTURE) IN SUPPORT TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND BUSINESS PRIORITY 3: SUPPORT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN POTENTIAL AND CREATION OF THE MODERN INNOVATION CULTURE IN THE REGION STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT

RAPIV PROJECT REGIOCLIMA Regional cooperation towards adaptation to climate change  The project is implemented under INTERREG IVC programme of EC, priority for environment.  GENERAL OBJECTIVE: To assist societies to adapt to the new climate conditions both by minimising the risk of damage and exploiting the new opportunities arising from a changing climate.  DURATION: 36 months. Starts in October 2008 and ends – September  BUDGET: ,00€  DEVELOPMENT OF EUROPEAN STRATEGY FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE.  PARTNERS: Cyprus, Italy, Spain, Estonia, Slovakia, France, Greece, Bulgaria

RAPIV COOPERATION WITH MUNICIPALITY OF VARNA Municipality of Varna and RAPIV collaborate in different projects for stimulating regional economy on the basis of innovations. RAPIV developed: Actualization of the Plan for development of Varna Municipality for the period , Contract: Д /1419.

RAPIV Regional investments.  Creation of a “Regional One Stop Investment Office”, under PHARE Programme. INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTRE Innovation services for SMEs.  EOS Project “Euro office services”, under 6 th FP.  Project InnoSME for fostering of the participation in 7 th FP under 6 th FP. Technology transfer.  Creation of “Marine Technologies transfer Centre” with the Naval Academy under PHARE Programme.

RAPIV Memorandum between Enterprise Ireland, Shannon and RAPIV HIGHTECHNOLOGY PARK VARNA Meeting with Dr. Kathrin Peters, Cambridge with Mr. Bazitov, Deputy Mayor of Varna. AVAILABLE CONDITIONS FOR THE CREATION OF HTP  Organizational structure–RAPIV.  Centre for development of the regional innovation policy.  Presence of universities and research institutes.  High percentage of regional companies in the sphere of high technologies.  Presence of high qualified specialists.  Access to international transport.  Access to financial resources.

RAPIV PARTICIPATION IN EUROPEAN NETWORKS INNOVATIVE REGIONS IN EUROPE

RAPIV CONTACTS Regional Agency for Entrepreneurship and Innovations - Varna High-Technology Business Incubator r.q.“Asparuhovo”, P.O.Box 87 Varna 9003 Bulgaria tel.: fax: