Bulgarian President Meets EU Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva to Discuss Innovation and Research Priorities
During her first official visit to an EU member state, European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva met with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev in Sofia. President Radev congratulated Zaharieva on her new role and emphasized the importance of her portfolio for the EU, highlighting innovation, research, and technology as essential for boosting Europe's economic competitiveness, CE Report quotes BTA
Radev expressed concern over Europe's lag behind global innovation leaders and called for consolidating the fragmented European research and innovation landscape while preserving internal competition.
The discussion focused on Zaharieva’s priorities, particularly supporting startups, creating flexible programs, and incentivizing private sector investment in science and innovation. Both officials underscored the need to strengthen ties between education and business, improve research infrastructure, and attract top scientific talent to the EU.
The meeting also highlighted the role of the Horizon Europe program and explored the idea of establishing an international center for sustainable technologies in Bulgaria, leveraging CERN technology to advance research in various scientific fields.
President Radev emphasized that fostering innovation in Bulgaria requires a resilient economy, quality education, and strategic investments in science and technology.
