Bulgaria gears up for participation in FP6 and ERA
Bulgaria is gearing up to participate in the Sixth Framework programme and the European research area (ERA), and has recently approved a national framework for the development of science and research in the country. According to the decision by the Bulgarian council of ministers, the country will take into consideration the main EU RTD (research and technological development) trends and, taking these into consideration, will concentrate on specified areas in its science policy. The decision calls for an overall evaluation of Bulgaria's R&D (research and development) and innovative activities, including, more specifically, an analysis of Bulgaria's scientific potential, existing facilities and infrastructure and the way in which scientific cooperation is conducted. 'The analysis should be made on the basis of national self-evaluation, through determining the strong and weak points of scientific and innovative activities in Bulgaria,' states the decision. 'It should also be carried out by independent national experts, which include the participation of international experts.' This evaluation should lead to the restructuring of national units and organisations carrying out scientific activities as necessary, states the decision. The decision approves of the Commission's support for researcher mobility, and emphasises the importance of the proper distribution of EU scholarships. 'The young scientist will be given the opportunity not only to gain broader experience, but also to form the basis for creating dynamic scientific units with upward mobility,' the council asserted. The council recommends that financial support for research should be guaranteed through an annual growth of 0.15 per cent of research spending of the GDP, and that private sector funding be increased gradually, with a fixed percentage of state funding as a subsidy. Bulgarian SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises) should also be encouraged to participate in scientific activities, and result transfer should be conducted in a more efficient manner, concludes the council decision. In a separate decision, the council of ministers approved the execution of five new national scientific programmes: 'genomica', 'information society', 'nanotechnologies and new materals', 'Bulgarian society - part of Europe' and 'cosmic research'.