An online meeting of the partner and stakeholder representatives participating in the SCHOLARNET international research capacity-building project, implemented under the ‘European Research Networks’ National Research Programme’, took place on 27^th April. The official event was an opportunity to share the results of the project activities conducted over the past six months and to outline the priorities for the second phase.

The Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at ‘St. Kliment Ohridski’ Sofia University and SCHOLARNET Project Director – Assoc. Prof. Atanas Georgiev – opened the meeting and highlighted the main focus areas of the project, including research capacity-building, knowledge transfer, exchange of good practices, linked academic research and networking.

‘The great thing is that the project is moving forward. I believe that what we accomplished under SCHOLARNET in the past six months is a testament to what we are able to achieve in such challenging circumstances and in spite of the pandemic. I hope the project will continue to develop in the same way in the future. I am confident that our achievements under this project will serve as an encouragement for other university initiatives.’ – said Prof. Anastas Gerdzhikov, Rector of ‘St. Kliment Ohridski’ Sofia University and member of the SCHOLARNET advisory board.

Mrs. Karina Angelieva, Deputy Minister of Education, also highly praised the implementation of the project and underlined the need of targeted investments in social sciences and humanities, including in the context of innovations. „Synergy means lending a helping hand to the best research teams; to those who are not afraid of competition and are ready to contend on the international stage.“ – Deputy Minister Angelieva pointed out.

Assoc. Prof. Todor Yalamov, Deputy Dean and Head of ‘Research, Innovation and Projects’ talked about the main successful project activities carried out so far. The new Journal of Economic Boundaries and Transformation, which is published in three languages (English, French and German) with an ambitious goal of achieving visibility in international databases, a series of PhD seminars and research fora conducted in support of young scholars, and the Just and SMART Transitions: New Deals, Markets and Governance international research conference, to name a few. Irina Yanchovska, a PhD student at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, participated in the meeting and shared her positive experience regarding the opportunities presented to young researchers under the SCHOLARNET project.

„As a member of the teaching and academic staff at FEBA I would like to express my strong support for the SCHOLARNET project. I believe that it is with the devotion and ambition demonstrated by the management and the project team, and the support of our partners, that FEBA will establish itself as a leading educational institution and will also position itself as a key partner in the field of economic and management studies and analysis in Bulgaria and Southeast Europe.’ – Chief Assistant Ivan Angelov, postdoctoral researcher and teacher at the Business Management Department at FEBA, added.

Prof. Albena Vutsova, R4-researcher at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration and member of the SCHOLARNET management team, presented the most important activities envisaged for the second phase of the project implementation. A tiered assessment of FEBA’s research is due to be conducted: two independent groups are going to make a SWOT and PEST analysis, and their work shall be verified by a supervisor. Preparation is underway for the expansion of the PhD panel portfolio on a national and international scale, with some panels being directed at postdoctoral researchers and established scholars so that the interests of the academic community can be aligned. Another ambitious task is developing the Early Birds platform, which helps support young scholars with the preparation and publishing of quality research articles, as a bilingual one and incorporating it into other similar platforms. This will give young researchers from partner organizations an opportunity to present their articles or create articles in co-authorship. In conclusion, Prof. Vutsova highlighted one of the upcoming tasks – the preparation of a new project which will build on the achievements of SCHOLARNET

Prof. Stela Raytcheva, representative of the partner university UVSQ, Paris-Saclay, declared the strong support of the university she represents for FEBA’s initiatives and shared that she is convinced that the SCHOLARNET project activities will be continued.

Mr. Marin Danovski – Chair of the State Agency for Research and Innovation – expressed an interest in the project. ‘Research capacity-building and networking is key for the development of the innovation potential of the country and will allow us to join the ‘moderate innovators’ group which has been our goal for the past 7 years.’ – Mrs. Tihomira Pavlova, Head of the Innovations and Entrepreneurship Department, Economic Policy Directorate at the Ministry of Economy, added.

For more information about the project please visit www.scholarnet.eu and the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration website: www.uni-sofia.bg/feba