1. A Critical Realist Approach to Security and Defense R&D Policy in Bulgaria
Nikolay Pavlov
Centre for National Security and Defense Research-Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
As a new NATO country Bulgaria makes efforts to enhance the capabilities in all levels of authorities by CAXes. For that purpose CAX environment was built using low-cost and COTS products and this presentation shows how it was done.
Sofia
15 May

2. Purpose of the study
Critical Assessment of the Defense R&D “Policy” in Bulgaria. The need for critical realist approach.
To present an academic survey of the Defense R&D “Policy” in the context of the specialized R&D data base in Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
A prototype of a knowledge management system - is it worth? Where are the end-users?

3. General Framework of Security and Defense R&D in Bulgaria
Security and Defense R&D in Bulgaria is not institutionalized as a separate scientific field
Interdisciplinary studies that fall in various scientific domains
EU 7-th Framework Programme - 1,4 billion EUR for Security theme
The wider context of scientific research in Bulgaria – poor prospects as a whole. Lack of state policy and political will – underfunded, fragmented and ageing scientific community.

4. Defense R&D Policy in Bulgaria from the BAS perspective
1999 – Framework Contract between MoD and BAS – the establishment of a specialized coordination body within the Academy in 2001
Years of active cooperation –
The main R&D players in BAS – Institute of Metal Science, Institute of Space Research, Institute of Parallel Processing, CNSDR и Institute of Hydro- and Aero-dynamics
The need for Security and Defense R&D Strategy (Programme) in Bulgaria

5. Current State of Defense R&D
Major shortcomings and “mazes” in the defense R&D system
Lack of will and efforts in the higher political ranks of MoD to realize effective R&D policy
Defense R&D funding - 0,1-0,18 % from MoD budget ( EUR) – it is spent for Bulgaria’s annual participation in NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance - AGS
Ministry of Emergency Situations takes the initiative – the draft National Programme for protection against natural disasters

6. The New European Defense R&T Strategy

7. Data base in BAS for Defense R&D Potential and Human Resources - v

8. Data base in BAS for Defense R&D Potential and Human Resources - v
Data base in BAS for Defense R&D Potential and Human Resources - v.0 – (dot.com)

9. A Survey of Bulgarian Security R&D projects for the last decade (1999-2008)

10. Conclusions
The relations between public authorities (MoD) and research organizations (such as BAS) are dependent on the state political leadership. The constitutional sovereign of the state – the nation (and civil society) is excluded from this equation.
A possible solution of the democratic deficit in this respect is active civil-military cooperation in defense R&D policy implementation, that is cooperation between civil and military research organizations.