MINISTERSTVO NA OBRAZOVANIETO I NAUKATA

Their core work

The Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science is the national government body responsible for science and research policy in Bulgaria. In H2020, it acted exclusively as an organizer of high-profile EU conferences and events tied to Bulgaria's 2018 EU Council Presidency, including flagship conferences on food security and research infrastructures. It also hosted the European Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) in 2019. Its role is policy coordination and event hosting, not direct research execution.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early H2020 involvement (2017-2018) centered on organizing EU presidency-linked conferences covering research infrastructure sustainability, food security, and R&I policy. The later period (2019) shifted to youth science promotion through EUCYS2019, a large-scale competitive event. The trajectory suggests a move from policy-level conference hosting toward hands-on science engagement and talent development.

Their shift from policy conferences to youth engagement suggests growing interest in talent pipeline and public science engagement — potential partners for science communication or STEM outreach initiatives.

How they like to work

They operate exclusively as project coordinators, running all three of their H2020 projects in a leadership role. All projects are Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), meaning event organization rather than collaborative research. With only 1 unique consortium partner across 1 country, they run very small, nationally-focused operations rather than building broad European consortia.

Extremely narrow network with just 1 consortium partner from 1 country. This reflects their role as a national event organizer rather than a research collaboration hub.

What sets them apart

As a national ministry, they offer direct access to Bulgarian science policy and government-level decision-making. Their value lies not in research capability but in political mandate: they can mobilize national research communities, host official EU events, and provide institutional legitimacy. For projects needing a Bulgarian government partner or national-level policy engagement, they are the primary point of contact.

Highlights from their portfolio

• EUCYS2019
  By far their largest project (EUR 800,000) — hosting the prestigious European Contest for Young Scientists demonstrates capacity for large-scale international event management.
• FOOD 2030 FLAGSHIP
  Tied directly to Bulgaria's EU Council Presidency, connecting food security, SDGs, and future Framework Programme policy discussions at the highest political level.