Bulgaria - National IP Strategy Zdravka Gyozlieva Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria

1. REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY STRATEGIESSibiu, 21-22 June, 2012 Bulgaria - National IP Strategy Zdravka Gyozlieva Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria

2. Bulgaria - National IP Strategy National Innovation Strategy – the basic document adopted in 2004 • has not beenimplemented in the last few years • there is no funding provided for the operationof the main instrument for its implementation – the National InnovationFund R&D spending as a share of GDP - well below the target in theStrategy and about three times less than the 2020 target (1.5% of GDP): In 2009 - 0.53% of GDP In 2010 - 0.7%of GDP In 2011 - 0.8%of GDP Europe 2020 target – 1.5% of GDP

3. Bulgaria - National IP Strategy Objectives of the innovation policy in Bulgaria: • to stimulate the R&D for the industry and the cooperation between the R&D departments, universities and companies; • to increase the financing for innovation through establishing mechanisms for attracting private investments; • to encourage companies to introduce new technologies and to improve their innovation activity; • to encourage the establishment of clusters in traditional sectors; • to support start-ups and well-functioning companies with the aim to increase their innovative potential; to build up mechanisms for attracting foreign investments to scientific areas etc.

4. Bulgaria - National IP Strategy • Council for the Protection of Intellectual Property at the Ministry of Culture – established in 2006 as the most important interagency coordination body and facilitator fordialogue with the private sector • Consultative Committee on IP matters (“The Committee”) – a body created within the office of theDeputy Minister of Culture

5. Bulgaria - National IP Strategy • Funding of innovation and R&D in Bulgaria - not guided by any considerations of long-term sustainability • Financial instrumentsfor development andpromotion of entrepreneurship andinnovation in Bulgaria The National InnovationFund – non-operational; itsfunctions should be restored in theform of an independent legal entity(not a program scheme, such as it isnow) as part of the update of thenational innovation strategy and/orthe passage of a law on innovation The JEREMIE initiative – at an initialstage The National Science Fund - practically the only working state financial instrument in 2011, in spite of the fluctuations in its funding and the delay of procedures

6. Bulgaria - National IP Strategy Operational Programme Competitiveness – the main instrument of the European funds in support of innovation in the country providing a financial mechanismfor business, albeit difficult toaccess – not sufficiently effective • Managing Authority of Operational Programme “Development of the Competitiveness of the Bulgarian Economy” 2007-2013 - after merging of the Managing Authority and the Intermediate Body(Bulgarian Small and MediumsizedEnterprises Promotion Agency– BSMEPA), the Directorate General European Funds for Competitiveness within the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism • Monitoring Committee - formally constituted in 2006; the first official meeting took place in November 2006

7. Bulgaria - National IP Strategy Bulgarian innovation policy in the context of the Europe 2020 Strategyfor Growth and Jobs of the European Union • Bulgaria’s positions in the field of research and innovation compared to the rest of the EU member states - according to a number of surveys of the European Commission on innovations, Bulgaria is identified as a “moderate innovator”, but still it is one of the most rapidly catching up Member States in the innovation activities National Reform Programme (2011 - 2015) – prepared in line with the “Europe 2020” Strategy, approved by the European Council in June 2010, and with the new instrument for enhanced economic policy coordination in the European Union, the so called “European Semester”. The focus is put on fostering competitiveness in order to take full advantage of the economic recovery

8. Bulgaria - National IP Strategy • ”National target 2 “Investments in R&D in the amount of1.5% of the GDP” With a view to achieving this target and the implementationof the European Flagship Initiative“Innovation Union”, the government policy should be focused both on: • promoting the R&D andinnovation activities of enterprises • creating the necessary prerequisites for thebusiness, and especially the SMEs, to innovate, develop and/or implement in practice theresults of their own or other people's scientific work

9. Bulgaria - National IP Strategy • Measures to be implemented in the short term (2011–2012): Law on Innovations (Innovations Act) - part of the engagement of the Republic of Bulgaria on the "Euro-plus Pact“;should play a key rolein creating favourable business environment for investments in research and innovations by: - Introduction of clear and simple mechanisms for finance and non-finance stimulation of the innovation activity of the companies - Institutionalisation of the existing National Innovations Fund – to be transformedfrom a grant scheme into a financial instrument for implementing the government policy in the field of innovations • Defining new financing mechanisms as well as new areas for state influence on innovation activities of entrepreneurs, while encouraging the companies to invest in the development of their own business

10. Bulgaria - National IP Strategy Participation in Enterprise Europe Network - will provide assistance to SMEs to develop their full potential and innovation capacity by offering high-quality services Measures to be implemented in the medium term, by 2015: • Innovation Promotion Fund – objective: to provide a financial instrument for the implementation of national, bilateraland international programmes and projects for encouraging innovations and creating anappropriate environment for innovative enterprises • Measures envisaged under OP “Development of the Competitiveness of theBulgarian Economy”, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund

11. Bulgaria - National IP Strategy The role of the Bulgarian Patent Office as a state authority for the protection of the industrial property – key objectives and areas of activity within the innovation support • encourage creativity and promote innovation, competitiveness and entrepreneurship - by raising awareness and knowledge on IPRs • focus on the needs of its customers - byproviding them withprofessional and accurate services and high-quality products – permanentlyimprove and add value to the services and the procedures in the BPO • encourage a more active involvement of the SMEs in the innovation process and participation in the IP system – IP Prediagnosis – the purpose is to raise SMEs' IP awareness and help them better protect and exploit their innovation potential), IPorta (IPR helpdesk), organisation of patent awareness events and preparation of materials

12. Bulgaria - National IP Strategy Conclusion - urgent need for action! • Need for establishment of a newintegratednational strategy for innovation and technological development - thestrategy should be based on an assessment approach (decisions based on the information gathered on the current situation in the country) and a SWOT analysis, and should reflect the science-education-innovation interaction • Need for establishment of a strong and capable administrative body overseeingthe application of the innovation development strategy - a political will • Need for a coherent national innovation policy framework • Need for a well-reasoned and realistic implementation/action plan for the national strategy • Proper legislative framework • Funding .

13. Bulgaria - National IP Strategy • Contact: Zdravka Gyozlieva Head Central Patent Library, Information and Documentation Department Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria 52b, Dr G.M.Dimitrov Blvd., 1040 Sofia tel.: +359 2 9701422 email: zgyozlieva@bpo.bg website: www.bpo.bg

14. Bulgaria - National IP Strategy Thank you for the attention!