CPSBB presented the final results of the project “Study of Staff Motivation for Career Development in a Regional Crop Production Cluster”

The motivation of the new generation of scientists, their professional growth and career development, as well as their public image are the main focus of the recently completed research project “Study of Staff Motivation for Career Development in a Regional Crop Production Cluster,” funded by the Bulgarian National Science Fund under contract KP-06-PN65/15 from 2022. The leading institution of the project is CPSBB.

“In January 2023 we launched the project. The duration of the study was 36 months,” commented the project leader, Prof. Dr. Vesela Kazashka. “Today we are ready to present the results and give due credit to the scientists, managers, and administrators who develop and sustain scientific activity in the country every day.”

The team and partnerships – the foundation of scientific progress

The ambitious project united the efforts of young and established scientists from the fields of biology, agricultural sciences, economics, and information technology. For the purposes of the study, a regional crop production cluster was created, including CPSBB partners – scientific organizations and universities. Memoranda of cooperation were signed with the Agricultural University – Plovdiv, the Medical University – Plovdiv, the Institute of Plant Genetic Resources – Sadovo, the University of National and World Economics, the Institute of Molecular Biology at BAS, and other scientific organizations.

At the beginning of the project, a “Manager’s Laboratory” was equipped at CPSBB. It functions as a workspace for PhD students and international researchers, as well as a hub for talent circulation.

“To develop high-quality fundamental and applied research, we must understand the factors shaping the motivation and loyalty of our teams,” highlights Prof. Kazashka. “We believe that the results of this study will also be useful for other scientific organizations in the country.”

What do the results of the motivation survey among researchers and staff show?

The empirical study, covering 201 respondents from the regional cluster, was conducted using a standardized tool based on Meyer and Allen’s three-component model of organizational commitment.

It reveals a clear trend: affective commitment is the dominant factor (mean value ≈ 5.23). It reflects strong intrinsic motivation, dedication, and a high level of professional identification. This is a positive signal for the quality of human capital in the sector, but it also highlights challenges stemming from the less pronounced other forms of commitment.

Normative commitment – the sense of moral duty, collegial belonging, and social responsibility toward the organization – shows moderate values (mean ≈ 3.96). The data suggests that although loyalty exists, it is not the leading driver for retention and long-term dedication.

Continuance (instrumental) commitment, related to assessing potential losses or costs associated with leaving (invested time, effort, reputation), also registers moderate results (mean ≈ 3.97), but with wider variation among individual responses. This dimension indicates that staying within the organization is based less on rational, pragmatic considerations and more on personal motivation and identification.

The conclusion is clear: targeted policies are needed to link individual motivation with institutional support – transparent career development, stability, proper onboarding, and retention of young researchers.

Commitment should be considered a result of institutional culture and effective management, not only an individual psychological characteristic.

What do scientific managers value?

After analyzing employee attitudes, the team logically focused attention on managers in scientific and higher education institutions in Plovdiv.

In April–May 2025, a quantitative survey was conducted among department heads, deans, rectors, and vice-rectors from universities offering programs in biology, agricultural sciences, biotechnology, and medical biology. The sample included 53 respondents.

The key findings:

Professional expertise is the leading selection criterion.

It is followed by ambition, the desire for development, and personal qualities.

Loyalty is valued, but emotional attachment has secondary importance.

Selection is guided by pragmatic, measurable qualities and the expected contribution to the institution.

The highest-rated skills are:

• teamwork;
• creative thinking;
• critical thinking.

Digital and communication skills receive lower priority, likely because they are perceived as basic rather than distinctive.

On 11–12 December 2025, a scientific seminar titled “Academic Perspectives: Contemporary Challenges and Motivation for Career Development” will be held. Participants include researchers and administrative staff from CPSBB, Plovdiv University, and the Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute. The seminar will feature projects from the three organizations that support career development and motivate researchers. The booklet “Women in Science and Art: Freedom, Talent and Creativity” will also be presented.

Women in science – role models and inspiring stories

The project also highlights the role of women in science and innovation – a topic developed in Bulgaria for more than 15 years. The aim is to recognize and present successful women in science and the arts whose research and innovations have a lasting impact.

Journalist Vanya Draganova conducted a series of structured interviews to identify role models and charismatic personalities who can inspire the next generation of researchers.