Development of the Young Scientists in Bulgaria: Legacies of the Past and Challenges of the Future

1. Development of the Young Scientists in Bulgaria: Legacies of the Past and Challenges of the Future Lidia Galabova Union of Scientists in Bulgaria Coordinator of the committee of young scientists

2. Science in Contemporary Society • The society we live in has been gradually turning into a “knowledge society”. P. Drucker

3. Science in Contemporary Society • Research and technology are, together with education and innovation, the components of the “Triangle of Knowledge”. Proposal for 7th framework programme of European Union

4. Science in Contemporary Society • Quality of R&Dactivity in Bulgaria • Knowledge Creationprocesses management • Knowledge Communicationmanagement • Young Scientistsencouragement and motivation • Intellectual Capitaldevelopment • Science and Societyrelationship

5. R&Din Bulgaria vs. R&D in Europe • The European Council of Barcelona set the target for raising European research efforts to 3% of the EU’s GDP, two thirds of which should come from private investment. • During the last decade the share of the R&D funds in Bulgaria decreased from 2 - 2,5% to 0,6% of BG GDP.

6. R&Din Bulgaria • The level of the R&D equipment and facilities compared to that in the developed market economies is below the average. • The Bulgarian Industry is in a crisis, and there is a lack of an environment where R&D achievements can be utilized. • The lack of expressed demand for science products leads to low motivation. • Young Bulgarian scientists prefer to work abroad for foreign companies, or they abandon their scientific career.

7. Knowledge Creation Process • “Although ideas are formed in the minds of individuals, interaction between individuals typically plays a critical role in developing these ideas. That is to say, “communities of interaction” contribute to the amplification and development of new knowledge”. I. Nonaka

8. Knowledge Creation Process Polanyi classified human knowledge in two categories: • “Explicit” or codified knowledge refers to knowledge that is transmittable in a formal systematic language. • “Tacit” knowledge has a personal quality, which makes it hard to formalize and communicate. Tacit knowledge is deeply rooted in action, commitment, and involvement in a specific context.

9. Development of the Young Scientists in Bulgaria: Challenges of the Future Improve the Quality of R&D activity in Bulgaria: • Work out a government programme to deal with the importance of the Bulgarian scientific institutions for the development of the Bulgarian economy, and to support and finance these institutions which are of a key importance. • Establish a legal base, guaranteeing the participation of business and Government in the funding of projects and training of young scientists.

10. Development of the Young Scientists in Bulgaria: Challenges of the Future Improve the Quality of R&D activity in Bulgaria: • Improvement of the quality of education in schools and universities will lead to a better basic preparation of the PhD students and will shorten the period for finalization of their work. • Creating the conditions needed for improvement of the material and technical foundations supporting the R&D in Bulgaria.

11. Development of the Young Scientists in Bulgaria: Challenges of the Future • Knowledge creation and communication management • Increasing the role of the NGOs in the development of key projects for knowledge exchange with Europe. • PR campaign promoting the abilities of the Bulgarian scientists and creating a “bank”, in USB for instance, of promising young scientists, who can be attracted to participate in different projects.

12. Development of the Young Scientists in Bulgaria: Challenges of the Future Young Scientists and Intellectual Capital Motivation and Development • Development of a specialized model of a labour market for young scientists. Executor could be the USB. • Attracting young scientists to the scientific institutions management following a quota principle. • Establishment of independent R&D centers within the Universities.

13. Development of the Young Scientists in Bulgaria: Challenges of the Future Science and Society relation • Establish relations with leading international companies to which the Bulgarian scientific potential to be offered in order to develop specific applied projects. • Develop a programme enabling young Bulgarian scientists to work and develop in leading world institutions, and encouraging them to return and share their experience and knowledge.

14. Development of the Young Scientists in Bulgaria: Legacies of the Past and Challenges of the Future Thank you! Lidia Galabova Union of Scientists in Bulgaria Coordinator of the committee of young scientists lgalabova@tu-sofia.bg