CPSBB took part in the national forum “From Science to Innovation” in Sofia

The Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB) took part in the national forum “From Science to Innovation”, organized by the Executive Agency “Programme for Education”. The event provided a platform for presenting all Bulgarian Centers of Excellence and Centers of Competence funded under the Programme “Research, Innovation and Digitalisation for Smart Transformation” 2021–2027 (PRIDST), co-financed by the European Union.

More than 200 participants were welcomed by Mr. Ivan Popov, Executive Director of the Executive Agency “Programme for Education”. He presented the main mission of the Agency – to serve as a link between scientific organizations and business – as well as the financial policy supporting the transformation and digitalization of the Bulgarian economy. So far, a total of 21 Centers of Competence and Centers of Excellence have been funded in Bulgaria, bringing together more than 60 research organizations and over 700 scientists with high professional expertise. More than 300 high-tech laboratories have been built and equipped to conduct research in areas such as biotechnology, mechatronics, information and communication technologies, food and healthy lifestyle, circular economy, and others.

Mr. Martin Danovski, Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Innovation and Growth, emphasized the need for a shared vision for the competitiveness of research organisations in Bulgaria, prioritizing the strategic positioning of the established Centers by providing services and continuous innovation in support of industry.

Via a direct video link from Brussels, Mr. Andreas von Busch, Head of Unit “Bulgaria, Hungary and Sloevnia (REGIO.E.3) within the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy of the European Commission, highlighted the achievements of the PlantaSYST project, under which CPSBB was established in 2015, as an excellent example for the successful implementation of EU-funded research projects in Bulgaria.

Prof. Dr. Tsanko Gechev, Director of CPSBB, was a speaker in the panel “Industry for Healthy Living and Biotechnology”, together with Mrs. Zdravka Smileniva, owner of the company Amititsa Ltd. which is one of CPSBB’s industrial partners. They presented the partnership between Amititsa Ltd. and CPSBB, aimed at integrating scientific approaches into the company’s production practices to align them with the European Green Deal, as well as studying the effects of biological plant protection products to improve and further develop their effectiveness.

Prof. Gechev also presented other CPSBB collaborations with industry. The Center currently partners with companies from around the world not only to improve stress tolerance and yield of crops, but also to develop joint international research projects. Except the research for sustainable agriculture, prof. Gechev also presented some of the research activities in favor of human health, such as the study of plant metabolites for the development of medicinal, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

Important highlights were also discussed between all participants related to the challenges for the establishment and the sustainable development of scientific institutions in Bulgaria. As the first CoE in Bulgaria, CPSBB’s experience was a good example for knowledge and know-how sharing with the rest of the participants in the forum.