site.btaForum Looks At Bulgaria-China Scientific Cooperation

The role of innovation and new technologies in the partnership between Bulgaria and China was discussed on Monday at a forum attended by representatives of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), the government, economists, and public figures. The event was jointly organized by BAS and the China Media Group, the academy’s press centre reported.

“In an era in which technological change is occurring at an impressive pace, science and innovation are the cornerstone of sustainable development. They are the driving force behind humanity’s progress and in the search for practical solutions to global challenges,” said BAS President Evelina Slavcheva in her remarks. “The bilateral relations between Bulgaria and China are an excellent example of how shared scientific interests and complementary expertise can lead to long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation,” she added.

Slavcheva spoke about her personal professional experience as a scientist and former director of the Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems. For several years, Bulgarian researchers supported the development department of a Chinese battery company by introducing standardized tests to validate the quality of their battery production. She recalled that BAS is a co-founder of the Alliance for Innovation and Cooperation in Low-Carbon Energy Technologies within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

BAS Chief Scientific Secretary Neli Koseva reviewed the cooperation between BAS and Chinese scientific organizations. She spoke about visits to BAS research units by seven Chinese delegations interested in joint developments in various scientific fields. Scientists from both countries have successfully worked on 14 joint research projects, and next year work will begin on two more. The Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering will take part in a project on functional and genomic research, while the Geological Institute of BAS will participate in a study of karst formations in Bulgaria and China.

The forum dedicated to cooperation between Bulgaria and China was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov, as well as the Deputy Ministers of Education and Science and of Regional Development and Public Works — Petar Nikolov and Dora Yankova, BAS said.