Business news

MINSK, 15 April (BelTA) – Belarus and Bulgaria plan to intensify bilateral innovative and sci-tech cooperation, including within the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Horizon 2020), BelTA learnt from the press service of the State Science and Technology Committee (SSTC) following the meeting of SSTC Chairman Alexander Shumilin and President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Stefan Vodenicharov.

“Access to framework programs for Belarus and their priority for Bulgaria makes this instrument one of the most important mechanisms in our cooperation today, with both the sides being equally interested in it,” Alexander Shumilin was quoted as saying.

Specialists noted that the Belarusian-Bulgarian cooperation is based on the allocation of grants for joint research in the competition among the projects in fundamental research conducted in cooperation with foreign scientists, and also through the allocation of grants to participate in international scientific events in Bulgaria.

According to SSTC, since 2003 a total of 19 joint Belarusian-Bulgarian projects have been presented. Fourteen of them (agrarian, biological, technical, physics and mathematical, social and humanitarian sciences) were selected and funded. Thirteen projects have been successfully completed so far.

“One project (technical sciences) will be completed in Q1 2017. At present Belarusian and Bulgarian scientists are looking into the possibility of implementing joint sci-tech projects, first of all in the area of photodiode sources of light and lighting systems, computer technologies, environment and natural management, and also nanocomposite deterioration and corrosion-proof coating,” the press service said.