NATIONAL POLICIES FOR STEPPING-UP RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION

Lisbon summit main task: EU to become the most competitive economy and dynamic knowledge based economy, capable for the sustainable development.

Research Development and Innovation Weaknesess  Lack of long term set of priorities;  Fragmented institutional structure;  Insufficient funding;  Disproportion between institutional and program funding;  Lack of innovations (exception: new materials, biotechnology and ICT)  Not very successful carrier policy resulting in brain drain;  Old-fashioned infrastructure - equipment etc.

LEGISLATIVE BASIS  Governmental Programme 2001  Law on encouragement scientific research  Rules on the organization and the functioning of the National Council for Scientific Research;  Rules for the activities of the Fund “Scientific Research”  National Strategy for Scientific Research;  Innovation Strategy  Strategy for acceleration of the accession of Republic of Bulgaria to the European Union

LAW ON ENCOURAGEMENT OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH  Stimuli provided:  Research in favor of economy, social processes and human resources;  Creation of new scientific knowledge and achievements;  Career development  Research infrastructure

STRATEGY FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT IN REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA ( UNDER CONSIDERATION )  analyses with elements of SWOT  Provide analyses with elements of SWOT  Complementarities with Innovation strategy, Governmental Programme and relevant EC documents;  Envisaged measures:  Updating and maintenance of needed resources, with a special focus on human potential and creation of new research generation;  Creation of favorable conditions for coherence of national and EC policies;  Improvement efficiency of targeted funding of scientific activities;  Stimuli for RTD development through financial support, better framework conditions for business investment in science

STRATEGY FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT IN REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA ( UNDER CONSIDERATION ) (2) STRATEGY FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT IN REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA ( UNDER CONSIDERATION ) (2) Improving the effectiveness of public support for RD&I; Improving the effectiveness of public support for RD&I; Reforming of the public support for research - new rules, redirecting the state aid towards other horizontal objectives, including research; Reforming of the public support for research - new rules, redirecting the state aid towards other horizontal objectives, including research; Taking advantage of pre-structural funds to support RD&I. Taking advantage of pre-structural funds to support RD&I.

STRATEGY FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT IN REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA ( UNDER CONSIDERATION)(3) Upgrade research infrastructures in priority areas; Upgrade research infrastructures in priority areas; Implementation foresight into decision making process; Implementation foresight into decision making process; Focus national competence in new promising fields; Focus national competence in new promising fields; Stimulate RD&I demands and enhance the take up of research results. Stimulate RD&I demands and enhance the take up of research results.

STRATEGY FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT IN REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA ( UNDER CONSIDERATION)(4) Increasing skilled human potential – career development of scientists in higher education and public research structures especially through: Increasing skilled human potential – career development of scientists in higher education and public research structures especially through: Targeted support for talented young researchers; Targeted support for talented young researchers; Creation of favorable environment for attracting foreign researchers; Creation of favorable environment for attracting foreign researchers; Increased intrasectoral mobility; Increased intrasectoral mobility; Strengthening international short-term mobility as a tool for prevention of brain-drain and establishment of effective mentoring schemes; Strengthening international short-term mobility as a tool for prevention of brain-drain and establishment of effective mentoring schemes; Promotion of the European Charter and Code of Conduct for Scientists. Promotion of the European Charter and Code of Conduct for Scientists.

Challenges  Increasing business innovation intensity;  Treating innovation as a cross-cutting policy issue;  Mobilizing human resources for innovation;  Creation and diffusion of ICT in the economy;  Reinforcing the institutional capabilities.

Approaches (1) Better coordination between FPs and Structural Funds; Better coordination between FPs and Structural Funds; Introducing of measures supporting PPP,s; Introducing of measures supporting PPP,s; Fostering international partnerships, European and regional cooperation and National programs - mutual complementarity; Fostering international partnerships, European and regional cooperation and National programs - mutual complementarity; Optimizing a mix of financial instruments; Optimizing a mix of financial instruments;

Approaches (2) Strong involvement in benchmarking; Strong involvement in benchmarking; Implementation of measures set in the Innovation Strategy Implementation of measures set in the Innovation Strategy Improve industrial competitiveness by encouraging the development of clusters Improve industrial competitiveness by encouraging the development of clusters strengthening cooperation between enterprises, research institutes and higher education establishments; strengthening cooperation between enterprises, research institutes and higher education establishments; support to start-up firms, support to start-up firms, training in entrepreneurship, training in entrepreneurship,

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