SUBJECT: UPDATING THE PRIORITY THEMATIC AREAS OF INTELLIGENT SPECIALIZATION FOR THE NEXT PROGRAM PERIOD 2021-2027

SUBJECT: Your letter OA23-09473 / 12.08.2020 on updating the priority thematic areas of smart specialization for the next programming period 2021-2027, according to the Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization

DEAR MR. MARKOV,

According to your letter to the Bulgarian Industrial Association on “Updating the priority thematic areas of smart specialization for the next programming period 2021-2027”, according to the Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization, and the request to provide substantiated proposals for priority thematic areas to be presented in the new Strategy, the Bulgarian Industrial Association - Union of Bulgarian Business expresses the following:

1. The separation of the "Mechatronics" area as an independent one is an absolutely correct decision. We suggest a clear differentiation of "Clean Technologies, Circular and Low Carbon Economy", for the South-Western region of Bulgaria as a second priority area. 

2. We consider it absolutely justified to differentiate the integrated field "Clean technologies, circular and low-carbon economy".
3. We suggest the definition of Sofia-city as a separate region, in which all five districts should be a priority.

You can see the reasons for the proposal in the attached Opinion of the Cluster "Mechatronics and Automation", prepared by Dr. Eng. Ventsislav Slavkov - Member of the Board of the Bulgarian Industrial Association, Deputy Chairman and Executive Director of the Cluster "Mechatronics and Automation.

Attached: Opinion of the Mechatronics and Automation Cluster

WITH RESPECT,

DOBRI MITREV

General Secretary of BIA