1. PROPLUS in Bulgaria: Lessons and Perspectives 1 Salamanca, Spain 23-24/6/2005 Sofia University Centre for Information Society Technologies Mirolyuba Madjarova PROMOTOR + in Bulgaria: Lessons and Perspectives

2. PROPLUS in Bulgaria: Lessons and Perspectives 2 Salamanca, Spain 23-24/6/2005 Contents oPROPLUS implementation in Bulgaria; oConcrete achievements in the region; oProblems faced and lessons learnt; oPerspectives for the future.

3. PROPLUS in Bulgaria: Lessons and Perspectives 3 Salamanca, Spain 23-24/6/2005 oState of the Art Analyse; BG Data-base; oPro Plus Method. Methodology customized due to regional specifics; oBG Team; Attracting state, private and public institutions – partners of the PROPLUS Project; oDevelopment of a Concourse documentation; oWEB-site; oFirst Stage of the concourse; oInterim training; oSecond stage of the concourse – “Best Business Idea”; oBasic training (in two phases); oFinancing; oIncubation. PROPLUS in Bulgaria Problems & Lessons Concrete Achievements Perspectives for the Future

4. PROPLUS in Bulgaria: Lessons and Perspectives 4 Salamanca, Spain 23-24/6/2005 Starting Phase: oDevelopment of the regional concept – saved the philosophy of PROPLUS Methodology; specific approaches for its implementation; oIdentification of national & private institutions: Strategy for attracting high-level authorities to support the project; Senior experts (ME, MRDW, ASME, BCCI and private sector) – members of the team. PROPLUS in Bulgaria Concrete Achievements Problems & Lessons Perspectives for the Future

5. PROPLUS in Bulgaria: Lessons and Perspectives 5 Salamanca, Spain 23-24/6/2005 Module “Identification” oCampaign for attracting potential participants oCarrying out concourse; oEvaluation of proposed ideas; oDissemination of results. Participants oNumber participants First stage – 23; oNumber participants Second stage – 10; oSpin-offs – 3. PROPLUS in Bulgaria Concrete Achievements Problems & Lessons Perspectives for the Future

6. PROPLUS in Bulgaria: Lessons and Perspectives 6 Salamanca, Spain 23-24/6/2005 Module “Training”: Necessity of interim training between the two stages of selection: “Development of BP – from the idea to the realisation”; 24 hours (8 lectures). Basic training: Development of BP – Investment Analyse; EU Financial Resources for Stimulating SMEs and Innovation; How to develop successful proposal; IPR; ISO Certification; Bulgarian Innovation Fund, etc. PROPLUS in Bulgaria Concrete Achievements Problems & Lessons Perspectives for the Future

7. PROPLUS in Bulgaria: Lessons and Perspectives 7 Salamanca, Spain 23-24/6/2005 Module “Incubation”: oIndividualised programmes with stimulating measures for each NTBC oConsultations (Group, Individual). Incubating activities without incubator existing PROPLUS in Bulgaria Concrete Achievements Problems & Lessons Perspectives for the Future

8. PROPLUS in Bulgaria: Lessons and Perspectives 8 Salamanca, Spain 23-24/6/2005 Development of a Sofia model of EDE oFirst outside EU MS; oInitiated in the frame of PROPLUS ; Visitors – more than 1000 (500+520); Co-organisers – 58 (20+28); Parallel sessions – 29 (12_17); Concomitant events Foreign participants – 75 (35+40); Speakers – 184 (66+118) oThe third issue of EDE – 24-25 November 2005; oOther towns of Bulgaria willing to organise EDE PROPLUS in Bulgaria Concrete Achievements Problems & Lessons Perspectives for the Future

9. PROPLUS in Bulgaria: Lessons and Perspectives 9 Salamanca, Spain 23-24/6/2005 PROPLUS in Bulgaria Concrete Achievements Problems & Lessons Perspectives for the Future The Macro-economy framework for adaptation of the PROPLUS Methodology – still unfavourable: Lack of legislation, allowing the registration of companies in the public research sector (BAS, NCAS, Universities); Act on Encouragement of the Research (2003) - does not foresee organisational and financial mechanisms for stimulating implementation of the research results; Lack of functioning financial instruments for state support given to the start-ups; Clear necessity of a State Guarantee Fund and Innovation Fund (March 2005); Lack of stock exchange - Impossibility to use the local and foreign venture capital; Necessity of a Plan for Implementation of the National Strategy for Innovation (2004).

10. PROPLUS in Bulgaria: Lessons and Perspectives 10 Salamanca, Spain 23-24/6/2005 At a National level: oReview and update of the National Innovation Strategy (NIS) adopted by CMD 723/8.9.2004; oDevelopment and Adoption of a Programme for NIS Implementation and a budget for it; oProposal for organising the activity of the National Council of Innovation at the ME, laid- down in the NIS; oUtilisation of the financial impact instruments (improvement of the macro environment for innovation/SMEs; oImprovement of the environment for incubating start-ups. PROPLUS in Bulgaria Concrete Achievements Problems & Lessons Perspectives for the Future

11. PROPLUS in Bulgaria: Lessons and Perspectives 11 Salamanca, Spain 23-24/6/2005 Strengthening the link University - Business : oNew legislation for subsidising universities by the public sector. Increase the budget for applied research. The priorities - defined and entrusted by the business branch organisations; oSet of measures for encouragement of the technology transfer; oUpdating the Act on Higher Education with texts promoting mechanisms of the public procurement. PROPLUS in Bulgaria Concrete Achievements Problems & Lessons Perspectives for the Future

12. PROPLUS in Bulgaria: Lessons and Perspectives 12 Salamanca, Spain 23-24/6/2005 Dissemination of PROPLUS Methodology: oRegular deliver of specialised training for entrepreneurs from NTBCs; oAttain closer coordination and collaboration among all acting projects and initiatives oriented towards support to start-ups and innovation (through the National Council of Innovation); oEstablishment of an Incubator at SU PROPLUS in Bulgaria Concrete Achievements Problems & Lessons Perspectives for the Future

13. PROPLUS in Bulgaria: Lessons and Perspectives 13 Salamanca, Spain 23-24/6/2005 PROPLUS in Bulgaria Concrete Achievements Problems & Lessons Perspectives for the Future 3 rd European Day of the Entrepreneur, 24-25 November, Sofia, Bulgaria Special parallel session with all the majors and relevant national authorities invited; Discussion on the problems of innovation promotion, NTBCs encouragement/support, incubators development.

14. PROPLUS in Bulgaria: Lessons and Perspectives 14 Salamanca, Spain 23-24/6/2005 PROPLUS in Bulgaria Concrete Achievements Problems & Lessons Perspectives for the Future Sofia South-Central Region North-Central Region South- Eastern Region South- Western Region North-Western Region North-Eastern Region Dissemination of PROPLUS Methodology and Handbook among the 6 Economic Regions of Bulgaria, using the new RIS projects, under developed there

15. PROPLUS in Bulgaria: Lessons and Perspectives 15 Salamanca, Spain 23-24/6/2005 PROPLUS in Bulgaria Concrete Achievements Problems & Lessons Perspectives for the Future Thank You! Mirolyuba Madjarova Centre for Information Society Technologies Sofia University mira@fmi.uni-sofia.bg