ERA to serve as an instrument for Bulgaria?

Bulgaria has welcomed the European Commission's proposals on the creation of a European research area (ERA) and highlighted the areas in which it will serve as an instrument for the country. The paper lists a number of areas where the ERA will serve as a catalyst for Bulgaria...

Bulgaria has welcomed the European Commission's proposals on the creation of a European research area (ERA) and highlighted the areas in which it will serve as an instrument for the country.

The paper lists a number of areas where the ERA will serve as a catalyst for Bulgaria. One such area is increasing the mobility of scientists with a view to establishing the 'science without borders' initiative. The Bulgarian Ministry of Education and science also believes that ERA will help Bulgaria to create a specialised database, containing scientific research and technological development projects as well as results.

The creation of an ERA will also serve as an instrument for bringing together various national R&D (research and development) projects, thus ensuring a synergy, and at the same time creating R&D networks, states the paper.

The Ministry also believes that European policy will help the country to implement new approaches and activities which aim at involving younger scientists and to introduce an approach for funding scientific and technological infrastructure comparable with that of the EU.

The Bulgarian Ministry also outlines a number of areas to which it believes Bulgaria should pay particular attention with a view to participating in the ERA. These include the establishment of high-tech parks and centres and virtual centres of competence and forging bridges between the national network of high tech centres and those in other European countries.

Bulgaria should also work towards introducing EU models and criteria for evaluation and increase the share of scientific research funding as a percentage of GDP, states the paper.