site.btaBulgaria's EU Commissioner Zaharieva Backs EU Funding for Dual-Use Technology Development

Bulgaria’s EU Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, backed using EU funds to promote development of dual-use technologies for both civilian and military purposes. She was speaking Tuesday at a news conference following the meeting of the EU Competitiveness Council in Brussels. 

“We are facing geopolitical challenges,” Zaharieva said, noting that EU ministers responsible for research and innovation sent a clear signal that the new EU programme Horizon Europe should reflect the changed reality. There is a broad agreement on directing European budget funds toward the development of dual-use technologies and linking research to security needs, she added.

Zaharieva also highlighted that the European Commission proposes doubling the Horizon Europe programme budget in the next multiannual EU budget. Funding for research and innovation is proposed to be tripled, she added.

Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation. It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth.