12 March 2010 | Sofia, Bulgaria
The Innovation.bg report provides a reliable annual assessment of the innovation potential of the Bulgarian economy and the condition and opportunities for development of the Bulgarian innovation system. Innovation.bg is conducted and published by infoDev's global incubator network member ARC Fund Bulgaria.
The fourth survey of Innovation Activity of Bulgarian
Business (INA-4), conducted by the Applied
Research and Communications Fund, revealed a considerable increase
of innovation activity of Bulgarian enterprises in 2009 (71% - share of
companies with innovations) compared to 2008 (43%). It reflected the positive
consequences of the country’s accession as a full member of the European Union
and the efforts of business to respond to the requirements of competitive
European markets and legislation. The crisis encouraged enterprises to seek
ways to differentiate their products and services, as well as to send clearer
messages to consumers, which led to an increase of market innovations.
At the same time the 2010 report underlines that the innovation activity of
Bulgarian businesses experiences the impact of the economic crisis through the
fall of public and private R&D funding, as well as through the
deterioration of the overall business and innovation environment (higher risk
aversion, personnel reductions, consumer markets stagnation, etc.). The long
delayed reforms in science and education, the lack of systematic and
institutional interaction between them and the business sector (e.g. transfers
of new technological solutions are sporadic), as well as the inefficient
management and utilization of European funds allotted for economic
modernization additionally exacerbate the problems caused by the crisis.
The report Innovation.bg 2010: The Innovation Policy of Bulgaria: Opportunities
for the Next Decade highlights the possibilities that 2010 presents for
critical decision-making and mobilization of enterprise and innovation
activity, human and intellectual capital to achieve economic recovery from the
crisis and sustainable growth. For Bulgaria this means updating of the current
National Innovation Strategy, providing linkages to the guidelines for the
development of science and the economy, and a clear commitment at the highest
level of government.
Please find the full report here: http://www.innovation.bg/innoartShow.php?id=15034