Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel: The interactions between education and innovation provide prospects for regional development
06 October 2023 News
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maria Gabriel took part in the third meeting of the European Network of Innovative Higher Education Institutions /ENIHEI/. The event was hosted by the Technical University of Gabrovo.
How can higher education support the creation of a pan-European innovation ecosystem? What are the challenges and opportunities? What is the contribution of the European Higher Education Network, of which Gabriel is the founder? These issues were the focus of the event, which aimed to mobilise the higher education sector to develop its innovative potential by sharing ideas and working on joint projects.
"The European Higher Education Network puts universities at the heart of innovation. It is an example of how linking education with innovation fosters students' entrepreneurial spirit and innovation and the creation of regional innovation ecosystems. Their strength is the concrete solutions they offer. I am glad to see the good results of the work of the representatives from Bulgaria - Technical University - Gabrovo, Technical University - Sofia and the University of Thrace in Stara Zagora", said Deputy Prime Minister Maria Gabriel.
In her speech, she focused on three main themes - international cooperation and the important role of initiatives such as the European University Strategy, regions as drivers of innovation and strategic investment in skills and the use of resources at national and European level.
Maria Gabriel pointed out that at the national level Bulgaria is working to turn higher education institutions into research and innovation centres, which is enshrined in the Strategy for the Development of Higher Education (2021-2030) and the National Strategy for the Development of Scientific Research, and that universities have already been given the opportunity to obtain the status of a research higher education institution.
The Deputy Prime Minister also noted the crucial role of regions in fostering innovation and strengthening the role of universities in creating deep technology valleys.
"The new European Innovation Agenda sets itself the ambitious goal of identifying up to 100 regions committed to improving the direction of their research and innovation investments and policies. With the Regional Innovation Valleys, we aim to create a community of regions that respond to local challenges and needs while contributing to the Union's strategic priorities," Gabriel informed.
She also stressed the need for strategic investment in skills and infrastructure and the full use of available resources.
"I encourage even more higher education institutions in the country to join ENIHEI, thus joining international cooperation, contributing to the expansion and reach of the network and strengthening the innovation potential of universities," the Deputy Prime Minister appealed.
"Together, we can make Europe an innovation powerhouse based on a strong talent pool, connecting universities to innovation sectors and forming regional ecosystems," she said.
The event was attended by the Mayor of Gabrovo Tanya Hristova, the Rector of the Technical University of Gabrovo Prof. Dr. Ilia Zhelezarov, representatives of the University of Salamanca and the University of Arts, Science and Technology, Malta.