National (Regional?) Technology Platform in Food (Agriculture and Biotechnology?) in Bulgaria (NMS-CC?)

Based on experience of the FP6 Projects: CEC Animal Science, AgriPolicy, TrainNet FUTURE, Foodlink EU AgriMapping, BAFN

Rome, 14 April, 2007

Prof. Ivan N. Minkov, Bio NCP, BULGARIA

Kostadin Fikiin Bio NCP, BULGARIA

The NMS (Bulgaria, Romania) and CC (Turkey and some WBC) are purely represented in the ETPs in Food and Biotechnology. A solution?A Regional Platform establishment?

• There are currently sevenseven European Technology Platforms relevant to agriculture, food and biotechnology.

• The NMS (Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia…) and the Candidate Countries are not are not well well representedrepresented in these platforms

• Given the strategic importance of ETP in the future research programs, there is an urgenturgent need to need to stimulate the integrationstimulate the integration of the NMS and CC in these platforms.

• The NMS and CC can not affordcan not afford to make NTPs in every area of agriculture, food and biotechnology

How to stimulate the NMS and CC participation in the ETPs?

1. To support the 1. To support the participationparticipation of the NMS of the NMS and CCs in the ETPs by:and CCs in the ETPs by: ParticipationParticipation of NMS-CC stakeholders in ETP

meetings;

OrganizationOrganization of meetings of meetings between ETP core members and representatives from the NMS-CC

IntegrationIntegration of NMS-CC representatives in the steering Councils of the ETPs.

2. To2. To contributecontribute to the implementation of to the implementation of Strategic Research Agendas inStrategic Research Agendas in NMS-NMS-CCCC

In the next phasenext phase of implementingimplementing the SRA at European, national and regional levels the NMS-CC could contribute by:

• NationalNational activities activities that could contribute to the implementation of the SRA.

• ConferencesConferences with representatives from the ETPs in each country to set up a roadmaproadmap for the action planning

How to stimulate the NMS and CC participation in the ETPs?

How to stimulate the NMS and CC participation in the ETPs?

3. To3. To stimulatestimulate NMS-CCNMS-CC / / ‘old’ ‘old’ MS MS cooperationcooperation andand networking by:networking by:

IncreasingIncreasing thethe visibilityvisibility of the ACC stakeholders for the Member States stakeholders;

CreationCreation of an “NMS-CC REGIONAL” Technology Platform on Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology”

FOOD National TP in Bulgaria

o Small countrySmall country

o Not enough powerful “Industry”Not enough powerful “Industry”

o Some initial interest in the industrySome initial interest in the industry

o Not enough resources and critical mass Not enough resources and critical mass for a “pure” Food Platformfor a “pure” Food Platform

o Alternative – establishment of a more Alternative – establishment of a more complex “Food and Biotech Platform in complex “Food and Biotech Platform in Animal and Plant Sector”Animal and Plant Sector”

ETP Food for LifeSteps:

• Setting up of Mirror Groups • National Consultation process• Definition of Scenario Studies• Refinement of SRA & definition of

Implementation Plan• Submission Final SRA• Investigation into the formation of

Public Private Partnerships

How this can be done?

1. Both approaches (The Regional Platform 1. Both approaches (The Regional Platform and The National Platforms in NMS) will and The National Platforms in NMS) will require funds.require funds.

2. The chance to get “starting” money from 2. The chance to get “starting” money from the industry is small.the industry is small.

3. 3. A possible solutionA possible solution – the ETPs (Food for – the ETPs (Food for Life) to suggest a suitable CSA topic in the Life) to suggest a suitable CSA topic in the WPs for the next callsWPs for the next calls..

THANK YOU

Contacts: Prof. Ivan Minkov – Bio NCP, minkov@pu.acad.bgUniversity of Plovdiv, Genomics Research Center. Tel./Fax +359 32 629 495Kostadin Fikiin, Bio NCP, agf@tu-sofia.bgTechnical University, Sofia, Tel./Fax: +359 2 965 33 22