Periodic Reporting for period 5 - PlantaSYST (Establishment of a Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology for the translation of fundamental research into sustainable bio-based technologies in Bulgaria)
Reporting period: 2022-06-01 to 2025-02-28
The overall objective of project PlantaSYST is to establish a Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB) in Plovdiv (Bulgaria) and hence to enforce it as a leading plant science research center in Bulgaria with world-class standards.
The strategic objectives of the CPSBB are:
• Highest research quality and productivity in the field of plant systems biology and biotechnology (up to the highest international standards).
• New products for the Bulgarian and the global market (breeders, farmers, end-users).
• Retaining and re-gaining the best specialists in the fields of plant science and bioinformatics.
• Educating next-generation researchers in the fields of plant systems biology and biotechnology.
• Establishing an excellent service-orientated management structure, effective innovation management, and intellectual property mechanisms.
• Bringing sectors together (policy, science, industry) for social and economic development. Clustering with other research institutes, universities, industry and regional authorities in Plovdiv.
All of these strategic objectives were achieved successfully during the lifespan of PlantaSYST
Overall, the newly established CPSBB has increased Bulgaria’s research and innovation potential, significantly enhancing the capacity of the Bulgarian science in the fields of plant systems biology and biotechnology, and stimulating the local scientific, economic, and social development in Plovdiv.
The strategic objectives of the CPSBB are:
• Highest research quality and productivity in the field of plant systems biology and biotechnology (up to the highest international standards).
• New products for the Bulgarian and the global market (breeders, farmers, end-users).
• Retaining and re-gaining the best specialists in the fields of plant science and bioinformatics.
• Educating next-generation researchers in the fields of plant systems biology and biotechnology.
• Establishing an excellent service-orientated management structure, effective innovation management, and intellectual property mechanisms.
• Bringing sectors together (policy, science, industry) for social and economic development. Clustering with other research institutes, universities, industry and regional authorities in Plovdiv.
All of these strategic objectives were achieved successfully during the lifespan of PlantaSYST
Overall, the newly established CPSBB has increased Bulgaria’s research and innovation potential, significantly enhancing the capacity of the Bulgarian science in the fields of plant systems biology and biotechnology, and stimulating the local scientific, economic, and social development in Plovdiv.
In line with the first and most important strategic objective of CPSBB: “Highest research quality and productivity in the field of plant systems biology and biotechnology. Cutting-edge fundamental and applied research…”, groundbreaking research has been conducted since the start of the project. Until now, there are more than 200 scientific papers, most of which in journals with medium and high-impact factor. These include articles in Cell, Nature Biotechnology, Nature Plants, Molecular Plant, Trends in Plant Science, to name a few.
CPSBB has become the most productive Bulgarian research institute in terms of peer reviewed publications. For the last fiv years (2019-2024), CPSBB is ranked No. 1 among the Bulgarian plant research institutes in number of research articles in peer eviewed journals, in Impact Factor, and in number of citations.
In 2019, CPSBB signed the co-funding project with the Executive Agency “Operational Program Science and Education for Smart Growth” and initiated the construction work of the new CPSBB research complex.
The construction was completed in January 2022.Later in 2022, CPSBB won the award "Building of the year" in the category for research and educational infrastructure.
In the period 2022-2025, CPSBB and MVCRI have introduced six new tomato and four new pepper varieties.
During PlantaSYST, CPSBB submitted more than 30 research and innovation projects, more than half of it were funded. As of April 2025, CPSBB has 23 active projects. These contribute to the financial sustainability of CPSBB.
CPSBB was a co-organizer of two major international conferences: International Conference on Plant Systems Biology (ICPSBB) 2021 and ICPSBB 2023.
A utility model for in vitro propagation of Haberlea rhodopensis was registered in the Bulgarian Patent Office by CPSBB. Together with MPG, CPSBB submitted an international patent for paclitaxel (taxol) biosynthesis.
CPSBB has joined national and international organizations, such as the EU SAGE, Euraxess, and the International Seed Federation.
CPSBB has initiated and continued to collaborate with more than 100 universities (University of Oxford, University of Gent, University of Potsdam, medical University of Plovdiv, etc.), research organizations (John Innes Centre, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Fruit Growing Institute etc.), and companies (such as Aphaea.Bio BioAtlantis, Better Seeds, Opora Zaden), based on mutual research interests.
Overall, these achievements have enhanced the potential of CPSBB significantly, disseminated project's results, and strengthened CPSBB's reputation as a leading organization in the field of plant science.
CPSBB has become the most productive Bulgarian research institute in terms of peer reviewed publications. For the last fiv years (2019-2024), CPSBB is ranked No. 1 among the Bulgarian plant research institutes in number of research articles in peer eviewed journals, in Impact Factor, and in number of citations.
In 2019, CPSBB signed the co-funding project with the Executive Agency “Operational Program Science and Education for Smart Growth” and initiated the construction work of the new CPSBB research complex.
The construction was completed in January 2022.Later in 2022, CPSBB won the award "Building of the year" in the category for research and educational infrastructure.
In the period 2022-2025, CPSBB and MVCRI have introduced six new tomato and four new pepper varieties.
During PlantaSYST, CPSBB submitted more than 30 research and innovation projects, more than half of it were funded. As of April 2025, CPSBB has 23 active projects. These contribute to the financial sustainability of CPSBB.
CPSBB was a co-organizer of two major international conferences: International Conference on Plant Systems Biology (ICPSBB) 2021 and ICPSBB 2023.
A utility model for in vitro propagation of Haberlea rhodopensis was registered in the Bulgarian Patent Office by CPSBB. Together with MPG, CPSBB submitted an international patent for paclitaxel (taxol) biosynthesis.
CPSBB has joined national and international organizations, such as the EU SAGE, Euraxess, and the International Seed Federation.
CPSBB has initiated and continued to collaborate with more than 100 universities (University of Oxford, University of Gent, University of Potsdam, medical University of Plovdiv, etc.), research organizations (John Innes Centre, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Fruit Growing Institute etc.), and companies (such as Aphaea.Bio BioAtlantis, Better Seeds, Opora Zaden), based on mutual research interests.
Overall, these achievements have enhanced the potential of CPSBB significantly, disseminated project's results, and strengthened CPSBB's reputation as a leading organization in the field of plant science.
The PlantaSYST project is of significant socioeconomic importance for the region, as more jobs are created and the region becomes more internationally recognized. Since its establishment, CPSBB has quickly become the leading plant research institute in Bulgaria. It is ranked No. 1 in terms of scientific production among the Bulgarian plant research institutes, as objectively assessed by the number of peer reviewed articles in journals with IF, number of citations, h-index, and number of research and innovation projects.
Some of the research highlights include publications in high-ranked journals such as Cell, Nature Plants, Nature Reviews Molecular and Cellular Biology, Nature Communications, Trends in Plant Science, and Biotechnology Advances. This sustained increase in scientific production is important for the international visibility and the long-term sustainability of CPSBB.
Internationally, CPSBB is building a strong reputation. It already has a large network of academic and industry partners and this network continues to grow. CPSBB is now frequently asked to participate in various consortia and regional/international centers. The impressive publication record of the CPSBB scientists attracted attention to the center and contributed to the building of strong image of CPSBB. Large international conferences such as ICNPU 2019, ICPSBB 2021, ICPSBB 2023, and ICNPU 2025 further showcase CPSBB and put it on the world scientific map.
The international visibility is further highlighted by the partnership agreements and contracts of CPSBB with more than 100 research organizations, universities, and companies, most of which international.
Some of the research highlights include publications in high-ranked journals such as Cell, Nature Plants, Nature Reviews Molecular and Cellular Biology, Nature Communications, Trends in Plant Science, and Biotechnology Advances. This sustained increase in scientific production is important for the international visibility and the long-term sustainability of CPSBB.
Internationally, CPSBB is building a strong reputation. It already has a large network of academic and industry partners and this network continues to grow. CPSBB is now frequently asked to participate in various consortia and regional/international centers. The impressive publication record of the CPSBB scientists attracted attention to the center and contributed to the building of strong image of CPSBB. Large international conferences such as ICNPU 2019, ICPSBB 2021, ICPSBB 2023, and ICNPU 2025 further showcase CPSBB and put it on the world scientific map.
The international visibility is further highlighted by the partnership agreements and contracts of CPSBB with more than 100 research organizations, universities, and companies, most of which international.