On April 6, 2026, a roundtable discussion on “Knowledge, Technology, and Innovation Transfer” was held in hall 113 of the Center of Excellence UNITe, organized by the Association of Young Scientists, the Ministry of Education and Science, and the National Representation of Student Councils as part of the “Incubator for Young Talents” Project (2024-1-BG01-KA154-YOU-000240875), funded under the European Union’s “Erasmus+” program.
The event drew a large audience of students, doctoral candidates, young researchers, entrepreneurs, and representatives from academia, government agencies, the business community, and the investment sector. The main topic of the discussions was the mechanisms for transforming scientific research into practical solutions and sustainable business models that contribute to the development of a competitive economy and help retain young talent in Bulgaria.
The forum was opened by Vadim Roshmanov, chairman of the Association of Young Scientists, who presented the results of the “Incubator for Young Talents” initiative. According to him, the project has already reached a significant number of students and doctoral candidates and has gathered information on real-world challenges from more than 100 municipalities across the country. The event also featured a presentation of the results of the project, which was carried out at universities in Plovdiv, Gabrovo, Vratsa, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse, Stara Zagora, Varna, Burgas, Pleven, and Shumen, as well as excerpts from the “Digital Anthology of Young Talents” and the final report on the initiative.
Among the keynote panelists was Corresponding Member Prof. Evdokia Pasheva, Vice Chair of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, who emphasized the need for better business training for young scientists, access to legal support, and effective protection of intellectual property. Special attention was given to the difficulties in implementing scientific research in practice and the need for a stronger link between science and business.
During the panel discussion, specific funding opportunities for innovation and startup projects were also presented. Dimitar Kostov, managing partner at Innovation Capital, presented a venture capital fund with €39 million in capital, targeting companies in the early stages of development. Plamen Yovchev, CEO of SIS Credit, introduced participants to microfinance opportunities through an instrument with resources exceeding €2.6 million, intended for students and doctoral candidates.
Prof. Kostadin Kostadinov, advisor to the Minister of Education and Science, provided an overview of government policies in the field of technology transfer. In his statement, he noted that the Ministry of Education and Science views the topic as a strategic priority and is working to build a more effective environment for cooperation between universities, research organizations, and the business sector. Emphasis was also placed on promoting spin-off companies and the more successful integration of scientific results into the economy.
Olya Dimitrova, Chair of the Patent Office, presented the support opportunities the institution offers to young scientists in protecting their inventions. She noted that expert assistance is provided as early as the initial stages of patenting and utility model registration, including during preliminary searches. The presentation also highlighted the increasingly widespread use of artificial intelligence in scientific research and patent analysis, which helps accelerate the innovation process.
Angel Stoykov, Chair of the National Representation of Student Councils (NRSC), presented the organization’s leading initiatives, which involve over 600 students from various universities across the country. He emphasized their role in promoting the exchange of knowledge, technology, and innovation, and in building active links between the academic community, business, and institutions.
The discussion session included representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Innovation and Growth, the National Representation of Student Councils, the Patent Office, the Center for Human Resources Development, SIS Credit, the Joint Innovation Center at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia Tech Park, the Clean&Circle Competence Center, and other organizations. The focus was on technology transfer, patenting, funding opportunities, and support for young scientists and entrepreneurs, as well as on building closer ties between science, business, and the innovation ecosystem in Bulgaria.
At the end of the event, Alexandra Gadzheva, a coordinator at the Association of Young Scientists, presented the initiative “Hub for the Full Integration of Students and Doctoral Candidates with Special Educational Needs into Academic and Student Life”. She emphasized the need to create a supportive environment for students with SEN, noting that only 17.3% of people with disabilities in Bulgaria go on to higher education, while 44.3% of young people with special needs drop out of the education system prematurely. The project aims to build a community space where students can develop skills for mutual support, communication, and active participation in academic life.
The participants agreed that successful knowledge and technology transfer requires active collaboration between scientific organizations, the business sector, and public institutions. The event reaffirmed the importance of such initiatives in fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and the professional development of young scientists and researchers in Bulgaria.
