BCCI: What is the value of innovative products in the export list of Bulgaria?

 

On 21 November, at BCCI a round table “Through Innovation towards Sustainable Development” was held jointly with “Personal Consult” - “Funds, Programmes, Projects” Magazine. The discussion was opened by the Vice-President of BCCI, Mr. Georgi Stoev and Mr. Yosif Avramov, member of the Board of Directors of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Co-Chairman of the Bureau of the Innovation Council with BCCI. Representatives of the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Academy of Science, Technical University – Sofia and representatives of the Federation of the Scientific -Engineering Unions, with which BCCI signed a cooperation agreement in mid October, took part in the discussion. Despite the invitation, a representative of the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism didn’t attend the event. The participants discussed major issues such as the contribution of innovation to the competitiveness of the Republic of Bulgaria on keeping the undertaken engagements under the Lisbon Strategy, as well as the revenues for business and the state, which may come from developed innovations.

Boyka Spasova, Expert in the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria made a presentation on the relations of the Patent Office with the business. She reviewed the problems in developing required Bulgarian and foreign patents and informed about the useful models and trademarks in the past few years, comparing the place of Bulgarian patents with what is happening in other EU member-states.

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Science was represented by Albena Voutsova, Director “Scientific Research”. She discussed the role of the state and the place of business to stimulate the creation and implementation of innovations. According to Mrs. Voutsova the most important spheres for innovation, in which the Innovation Fund must invest are food, IT and energy efficiency.

Georgi Stoev, Vice-President of the Chamber, reminded that BCCI participates in the international project TRANSCOSME under the 7th Framework Programme for establishing a link between institutions and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). The project is developed jointly with 27 other countries. Its aim is to establish a data base of SMEs and to assist project implementation on local level.

During the round table several suggestions were discussed. One was to form an Innovation Committee or public-consultative committee on innovation, which will not have the functions of a state agency. Another suggestion during the discussion was made by the Moderator of the forum Alexander Trifonov, who is an expert on innovation. He proposed that a research is carried out by the “Analyses” Department at BCCI, which summarized what added value innovative products have in export goods, how many innovative products there are and what their value is in the export list of Bulgaria. This research would cast more light on the important economic question whether Bulgaria exports more goods with low added value or products with higher added value. 

21.11.2011