The session is designed to give participants understanding of the utmost relevance of Research and Innovation (R&I) in the economic growth strategy of economies, discuss R&I performance of the European Union (EU) in the global context and shed light on the key EU legislation and new programs to boost economic growth in Europe (including post-Covid 19 measures), based on two pillars – green transition and digital transformation. Specific focus will be given on the main pillars of Horizon Europe (2021-2027), which is the EU framework program for research and innovation, as well as the new venture capital investment instrument – European Innovation Council, which looks for promising start-ups and innovative SMEs in Europe.
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Relator: Dr. Evgeni Evgeniev
Research Attaché, Permanent Representation of Bulgaria to the European Union
Dr. Evgeni Evgeniev is the Research Attaché at the Permanent Representation of Bulgaria to the European Union. Since September 2018, he has been representing the research and innovation sector of Bulgaria in Brussels from where he operates. He is the key negotiator for Horizon Europe, which is the new Framework Program for Research and Innovation (R&I), covering the period 2021-2027, estimated at EUR 105 B., and other key legislative files that drive the R&I policy in Europe.
Before his current diplomatic assignment, he advised the Minister of Education and Science of Bulgaria on research policy for two years, and he also served for three years as Vice-Rector for European Projects and Further Development at one of the top universities in Bulgaria, where he also led courses as Associate Professor in Finance. In fact, he has been teaching and doing research in Budapest, Florence, Istanbul, Parma, Seoul and Sofia. Between 2003 and 2019, he supervised over 200 master theses of his students and 3 PhD dissertations.
Dr. Evgeniev is a graduate of Central European University in Budapest (PhD and MA in Public Policy/Political Economy), and Varna University of Economics (BSc in Economics and MA in International Tourism). He has an Advanced Diploma in European Studies from European College of Parma (10-months specialization).
