Common policy for the development of research and innovation

This reform aims to foster an efficient policy coordination in all phases of research and innovation and to spur the Bulgarian innovation outcome. The reform supports the creation of a research and innovation ecosystem that ensures close links between academia and the business sectors.

As a first step in the reform,  Bulgaria adopted a new Research and Innovation Act, which entered into force on 1 May 2024.  The Act sets out the legislative framework of the new policy for the development of research and innovation.

The Act: 

• defines the legislative parameters of the national policy for the development and financing of research and innovation; 
• regulates the role and responsibilities of each of the institutions involved in the process of policy design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation in the field of research and innovation; 
• defines the instruments and mechanisms for policy implementation in the field of research and innovation policy. 

With regard to technology transfer policy, the Act defines: 

• the principles and rules governing the development and funding of technology and knowledge transfer policy; 
• the role and functions of each of the institutions involved in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the policy for technology transfer. 

This Act replaces the Research Promotion Act. It  also amends intellectual property rights legislation to enhance the coherence of the national framework for intellectual property rights and technology transfer, building on the recommendations of the World Bank received in the country report on knowledge transfer, as well as on the recommendations of the Joint Research Centre.

Further steps in the reform include the establishment of an Innovation Board an advisory body to the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Innovation and Growth as well as amendments to relevant legislative acts and of all the necessary secondary legislative acts related to the Research and Innovation Act.

The reform is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.