1. National (Regional?) Technology Platform in Food (Agriculture and Biotechnology?) in Bulgaria (NMS-CC?) Based on experience of the FP6 Projects: CEC Animal Science, AgriPolicy, TrainNet FUTURE, Foodlink EU AgriMapping, BAFN Rome, 14 April, 2007 Prof. Ivan N. Minkov, Bio NCP, BULGARIA Kostadin Fikiin Bio NCP, BULGARIA

2. The NMS (Bulgaria, Romania) and CC (Turkey and some WBC) are purely represented in the ETPs in Food and Biotechnology. A solution? A Regional Platform establishment? sevenThere are currently seven European Technology Platforms relevant to agriculture, food and biotechnology. are not well representedThe NMS (Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia…) and the Candidate Countries are not well represented in these platforms urgent need to stimulate the integrationGiven the strategic importance of ETP in the future research programs, there is an urgent need to stimulate the integration of the NMS and CC in these platforms. can not affordThe NMS and CC can not afford to make NTPs in every area of agriculture, food and biotechnology

3. How to stimulate the NMS and CC participation in the ETPs? 1. To support the participation of the NMS and CCs in the ETPs by:  Participation  Participation of NMS-CC stakeholders in ETP meetings;  Organization of meetings  Organization of meetings between ETP core members and representatives from the NMS-CC  Integration  Integration of NMS-CC representatives in the steering Councils of the ETPs.

4. 2. To contribute to the implementation of Strategic Research Agendas in NMS-CC next phaseimplementing  In the next phase of implementing the SRA at European, national and regional levels the NMS- CC could contribute by: National activitiesNational activities that could contribute to the implementation of the SRA. Conferences roadmapConferences with representatives from the ETPs in each country to set up a roadmap for the action planning How to stimulate the NMS and CC participation in the ETPs?

5. 3. To stimulate NMS-CC / ‘old’ MS cooperation and networking by:  Increasing the visibility  Increasing the visibility of the ACC stakeholders for the Member States stakeholders;  Creation  Creation of an “NMS-CC REGIONAL” Technology Platform on Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology ”

6. FOOD National TP in Bulgaria o Small country o Not enough powerful “Industry” o Some initial interest in the industry o Not enough resources and critical mass for a “pure” Food Platform o Alternative – establishment of a more complex “Food and Biotech Platform in Animal and Plant Sector”

7. ETP Food for Life Steps: Setting up of Mirror Groups National Consultation process Definition of Scenario Studies Refinement of SRA & definition of Implementation Plan Submission Final SRA Investigation into the formation of Public Private Partnerships

9. How this can be done? 1. Both approaches (The Regional Platform and The National Platforms in NMS) will require funds. 2. The chance to get “starting” money from the industry is small. 3. A possible solution – the ETPs (Food for Life) to suggest a suitable CSA topic in the WPs for the next calls.

10. THANK YOU Contacts: Prof. Ivan Minkov – Bio NCP, minkov@pu.acad.bgminkov@pu.acad.bg University of Plovdiv, Genomics Research Center. Tel./Fax +359 32 629 495 Kostadin Fikiin, Bio NCP, agf@tu-sofia.bgagf@tu-sofia.bg Technical University, Sofia, Tel./Fax: +359 2 965 33 22