The Minister of Innovation and Growth Irena Mladenova held a meeting with the President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Corresponding Member Evelina Slavcheva. The two discussed technology transfer, strengthening institutional interaction, as well as the opportunities for the Academy to participate in the development and testing of dual-use products.
Minister Mladenova indicated that she had listed the topic of technology transfer among her main priorities and stressed the importance of strengthening the relationship between science and business. “We need a common approach. We count on you, the academic community, and the business. I am ready to consider the ideas that you think work in order to multiply them“, said Mladenova during the meeting at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
According to her, the role of the Ministry and in particular the Council for Innovation and Scientific Research is to provide a platform for joint cooperation between the academic community and business.
The conversation also focused on the Center for Defense Innovation in Sofia Tech Park and the Center for Excellence in Kazanlak, as well as their potential. In this regard, opportunities for the participation of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in projects related to the development and patenting of innovations in the field of defense and dual-use products were discussed. Among the topics of the conversation was also the modern equipment that the Academy has. As a drawback, it was emphasized that more companies need to have information about it.
Minister Mladenova was introduced to some of the new projects of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth Borislav Bankov and scientists from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.