National-regional governance of STI

The oversight of science, technology, and innovation in Bulgaria is primarily divided between two key ministries: the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Innovation and Growth. The Ministry of Education and Science is responsible for regulating the national education system; formulating and implementing science and research policies; and managing the involvement of national consortia in pan-European research infrastructure. On the other hand, the newly created Ministry of Innovation and Growth is in charge of steering technological development and innovation, playing a pivotal role in shaping the state’s innovation policy and defining the national smart specialisation strategy. In 2021, the new Ministry of Innovation and Growth was established in Bulgaria. This ministry's mandate was to pool resources in the field of Policy Objective (PO) 1, namely: a Smarter Europe, through innovation, digitization, economic transformation, and support to small and medium-sized businesses. In addition, they strive to foster a competitive economy that supports regional growth and development. Its mission involves promoting and driving innovation, as well as securing investments across all sectors of the country's economy, with the aim of contributing to the overall prosperity and advancement of Bulgaria. The Directorate European Funds for Competitiveness within the Ministry is also managing the two ERDF funded PO 1 Programmes in Bulgaria.

National and regional S3s: organisation and governance

Bulgaria has a national innovation strategy for smart specialisation, which is prepared by the Ministry of Innovation and Growth is adopted and updated, if necessary, by the Council of Ministers. The latest version was adopted on 16 December 2022. Since 2015, a new Smart Growth Council was established as an advisory body to the Council of Ministers, defining the guidelines for the development of S3 thematic areas, the S3 vision, strategic objectives, as well as the coordinating and monitoring practices. In the period of 2021-2027, the Smart Growth Council will continue its functions as an updated version of the previous strategy, with planned changes to increase its effectiveness. A key instrument for promoting synergies across funds will be the newly established Innovation Council, where the institutional coordination of public policy in the field of research and innovation will be carried out. The Council will be a permanent advisory body to the Ministers of Education and Science and the Ministry of Innovation and Growth, co-chaired by the two Ministers. Its members will be leading experts in different scientific fields from home and abroad, nominated by scientific organizations, innovators, and business leaders. The creation of the Innovation Council is part of the reforms undertaken by the country in the framework of the National Recovery and Resilience plan.

For information on regional S3s, please return to the homepage: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/assets/s3-observatory/index_en.html