Project "Regional Innovation Strategy of North-East Planning Region of Bulgaria"

Project"Regional Innovation Strategy of North-East Planning Region of Bulgaria" (NE-BG RIS) is funded under the Sixth Framework Programme of the European Commission, Research and Innovation direction.

The project duration is 32 months - from 2005 to 2008, and has a budget of € 466,000.

Project partners are Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW), Bulgaria, Alliance of Regional Governors in NERP, University of Western Macedonia - Greece, Region Liguria and Region Abruzzo - Italy.

The project researches and analyzes the innovation needs and innovation potential of the region and develops a strategy for promoting innovation and technology transfer.

Directly engaged persons in the project are 159, including 104 experts and consultants. The total number of participating legal entities is over 600, including SMEs. The total number of participants is over 1500.

As project coordinator, the RAPIV’s team contacted over 500 SMEs in the region to research the innovation and competitiveness of companies in the region and at the same time the obstacles that hinder their development.

The main objective of this project is to create and maintain an environment fostering innovation in North-East Planning Region of Bulgaria through the development of regional innovation policy and the established Regional Innovation Strategy.