Last update date 12 November 2021
Centres of Excellence and Centres of Competence are key innovation infrastructures in advanced regional innovation systems. They aim to attract highly qualified researchers within a triple helix arrangement, involving public organisations, private companies, universities and clusters, to generate leading applied research, experimental development, and technological innovations in sectors prioritised in the country’s Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3). It concerns sectors such as mechatronics, digital technologies, creative and gaming industries and biotechnology and other areas in line with Bulgaria's strategic priorities. The initiative has been launched in 2019 and will be extended to other EU countries. This measure does not only target clusters but has the potential to facilitate their set-up and development as they can benefit or become part of the Centres.