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RIS BRIDGE: South-West Region of Bulgaria
“Fostering Regional Innovation-Based Development through Networking and Benchmarking Policies:
the Bulgarian Experience”
Daniela TchonkovaProgramme Coordinator
Applied Research and Communications Fund
Regional Innovation Strategy for the South West Region of Bulgaria: Bridging the Innovation Disparities between the Capital Sofia and the Rest of the Region
South-West Planning Region of
Bulgaria: main characteristics
• Economically largest Planning Region, 38% of national GDP;
• Densest research and development infrastructure;
• Highest entrepreneurial activity;
• Highest level of foreign direct investment.
Inter-regional disparities widening
0 500 1 000 1 500 2 000 2 500 3 000 3 500 4 000
euro
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
North-west North-central North-east South-east South-central South-west Bulgaria
GDP per capita
Source: NSI
Inter-regional disparities also in R&D expenditure
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
BG01 North-West (Severozapaden) BG02 North Central (Severen tsentralen) BG03 North-East (Severoiztochen)
BG04 South-West (Yugozapaden) BG05 South Central (Yuzhen tsentralen) BG06 South-East (Yugoiztochen)
Source: NSI
Priorities of the Bulgarian Innovation Policy (1)
• Encouraging innovation: - National Strategy for the Development of High Technologies in Republic of Bulgaria (1999). Need for improving the overall economic environment and the scientific and engineering (technological) infrastructure - National Strategy for Encouraging the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Bulgaria for the Period 2000-2006 - Innovation Strategy of the Republic of Bulgaria (2004) - National Strategy for Scientific Research for the period 2005-2013
• Human Resources: - (1995-2002) personnel engaged in R&D per 1000 employees: low with a downward trend after 1996 -The work force engaged in R&D in 2001 in Bulgaria (5.1) twice as low as EU-15 (13.9)- Concentration of scientific staff in the middle and older age groups and weaker engagement of young people in scientific and technological activity
Priorities of the Bulgarian Innovation Policy (2)
• Priorities for developing the patent systemThe protection of intellectual property rights is adequate to the legislation in the EC. The challenges: degree of information and knowledge on the possibilities of the patent legislation and the financial capacity of the enterprises.
Number of submitted applications (for inventions and useful models) and of issued patents by the Bulgarian Patent Agency
Year Submitted applications Issued patents
Bulgarian applicants
Foreign applicants
Total Bulgarian applicants
Foreign applicants
Total
2000 337 710 1047 217 337 554
2001 389 785 1174 187 294 481
2002 416 735 1151 211 257 468
2003 407 679 1086 160 214 374 Source: Bulgarian Patent Agency
Priorities of the Bulgarian Innovation Policy (3)
Financing innovation. Programmes and projects for innovation:
Road Map of Bulgaria, Pre-accession Economic Programme of the Government (2003-2006) and (2004-2007)
• directing a bigger financial resource to research and development activities;
• restructuring the sources of financing with the aim to raise the share of business and risk capital funds;
• optimizing the financial framework to achieve higher effectiveness when using the funds.
Public expenditure on R&D and education as percentage of GDP in Bulgaria
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
R&D 0,44% 0,37% 0,34% 0,28% 0,18% 0,44% 0,45% 0,40% 0,43% 0,33% 0,37% 0,35%
Education 6,06% 5,74% 4,77% 4,04% 3,15% 3,93% 3,86% 4,16% 4,22% 4,03% 4,19% 4,37%
Source: Act on the budget of Republic of Bulgaria for every year of the viewed period
Clusters in Bulgaria
• The cluster "Srednogorie Med" was created in January 2005 with a constitutive protocol under the patronage of the Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Economy. The cluster comprises the large industrial enterprises for extracting and processing ores and non-ferrous metals of the Central Srednogorie region.
• The ICT cluster created in Bulgaria is an example of sector differentiation of enterprises in which the geographical localization doesn’t have influence as a cluster-forming factor.
• The „Mesta“ cluster in Razlog is built on the basis of a similar interaction. In response to a big order from a Dutch entrepreneur for manufacturing furniture, which could not be fulfilled by any of the 30 small enterprises in the region, the „Mesta“ Business Centre based in Razlog initiated a cluster alliance.
• Cluster in Sevlievo - initial investment of „American Standard“in 1992
Innovation index of the Bulgarian companies
Overview: Bulgarians’ Attitude Towards Innovation
Source: Innobarometer (2005)
Overview: How Does Bulgarian Innovation System Fair in
Europe
Source: European Innovation Scoreboard (2006)
Relative share of the innovative enterprises in Bulgaria and EU-15
Source: National Statistical Institute (NSI), 2004, Eurostat, NewCronos, 2001.
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Mining and quarrying
Manufacturing
Electricity, gas and water supply
Services
Wholesale and commission trade
Transport and communication
Financial intermediation
Computer activities; R&D; etc.
Bulgaria (2003) Bulgaria (2004) EU-15 (2000)
Source: NSI 2004, Eurostat, NewCronos 2001.
Comparing barriers to innovation in Bulgaria (2003) and EU-15 (2000)
Source: Eurostat, 2005
0
2
4
6
8
10
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Източник:Eurostat
NMC-10 BG RO
Number of patent applications per million inhabitants in Bulgaria
and EU-10
BulgariaBusiness
enterprise sector26.8%
Abroad, non-profit
organizations, higher
education6.3%
Government sector66.9%
BulgariaBusiness
enterprise sector26.8%
Abroad, non-profit
organizations, higher
education6.3%
Government sector66.9%
Source: NSI, Eurostat, 2004.
European Union (EU-15, 2001)
Government sector35.0%
Business enterprise
sector56.0%
Abroad, non-profit
organizations, higher
education9.0%
European Union (EU-15, 2001)
Government sector35.0%
Business enterprise
sector56.0%
Abroad, non-profit
organizations, higher
education9.0%
Misbalance: Structure of R&D expenditure by
sources of funds
Life-long learning (share of population aged 25-64, taking part in education and training)
Source: Eurostat (2004)
7,8 7,9
9,29,9
1,4 1,3 1,4 1,3
0,0
2,0
4,0
6,0
8,0
10,0
12,0
2001 2002 2003 2004
EU-25 Bulgaria
Challenges
• Spending on R&D - 0.5 % of GDP, mainly government;
• Significant reduction of the number of personnel in R&D activities;
• Deterioration of the role of the universities in research and innovation activities;
• Weak clustering between enterprises, universities and R&D centres/institutes;
• Lack of a coherent national and regional system and policy for integrating Bulgarian R&D and innovation activities into EU structures.
Thank you!
The full text of the report can be found at:
www.innovation.bg
Questions?
