About the project

Project objectives

The CAPBIO4BG project will strengthen the research & innovation capacity of the Agricultural University- Plovdiv (AUP) in the area of bioeconomy to develop and implement research & innovation projects in bioeconomy value chains at regional, national, cross-border and international level.

The CAPBIO4BG project will increase the university's capacity for multidisciplinary cooperation in the field of scientific research and innovation as a key prerequisite for the implementation of regional bioeconomy strategies in Bulgaria and the region. Agricultural University - Plovdiv will strengthen its position as an academic participant in the development of bioeconomy initiatives, including the development of a center for knowledge and innovation in the field of bioeconomy in the Plovdiv region. The project will promote systematic and integrated approaches to acquiring scientific knowledge and innovations in the field of bioeconomy and will build the capacity of the Agricultural University - Plovdiv as a regional center of bioeconomy knowledge.

Project partners

The Agricultural University - Plovdiv is twinning with three European universities with excellent track record on the bioeconomy: University of Bologna, Wageningen University and Research and University College of Dublin.

University of Bologna and Wageningen University and Research are members of the European Bioeconomy Alliance (EBU), a network of excellence devoted to enable a fast transition to bioeconomy and University College of Dublin has a leading role in biobased JU initiatives.

Outcomes to be expected

  • CAPBIO4BG will boost the potential of the Agricultural University - Plovdiv and formulate the research agenda and profile for the Agricultural University and its partners in the field of bioeconomy. The focus will be on developing new research projects at the university with leading partners and networks in which the more advanced universities are already involved (bioeconomy networks, BIO-EAST, FOODFORCE, FACCE JPI etc.)
  • Developing living labs and regional hubs on bioeconomy will allow Agricultural University - Plovdiv to boost the research potential of its staff by engaging them in real showcases on Bioeconomy to link science-policy-stakeholders interactions.
  • CAPBIO4BG will allow strengthening the research profile of the Agricultural University - Plovdiv by developing specific ideas for participation in the Horizon Europe program and the ERA.

Impacts to be expected

  • Increased research excellence of the Agricultural University - Plovdiv the area of bioeconomy

    By introducing the Capacity Building Framework (CBF) with specific measures to enhance the capacity of the research staff of the Agricultural University - Plovdiv and its performance indicators (publications, research projects, collaborations) in the field of Bioeconomy. The project will deliver more qualified research staff with dedicated team conducting bioeconomy research and contributing to the implementation of the Bioeconomy Strategy. The research team will be able to acquire the necessary resources for conducting the research activities within regional, national and European funding programmes. The increased competitiveness of the Agricultural University - Plovdiv will be one of the main impacts as a result of the project so that a larger socio-economic impact can be achieved at regional, national and cross border level. Moreover, the project will create favourable conditions for innovations in the field of bioeconomy in order to promote circular and bio- based societal spinoff.

  • Raised scientific profile and attractiveness of the Agricultural University - Plovdiv

    At the national level, the project will provide access to institutions outside the Agricultural University to stimulate collaboration with the three leading universities of CAPBIO4BG.

  • Enhanced capacity for successful national, EU and international acquisition of research funding

    The project will deliver trained research management staff at the Agricultural University - Plovdiv that will be able to support researchers in their research funding proposals and develop project ideas and manage larger research programmes with international partners. The advanced universities can share best practices via staff exchanges, workshops and research manager network.

  • Impact within the Agricultural University - Plovdiv as coordinating institution

    CAPBIO4BG will deliver tangible changes within the Agricultural University that will ensure its capacity and readiness to initiate and implement excellent research in the field of bioeconomy. The impacts of these changes will be to ensure the increase of future peer- reviewed journals of the Agricultural University‘s researchers, engagement in collaboration agreements with businesses in innovation projects (Living Labs and best practices), increase in intellectual property and new innovative services that will promote development of the bioeconomy sector in Bulgaria.