Between 1-3 April 2019 UNWE was a host of a series of discussion meetings - part of the World intellectual property organization's (WIPO) Mission to determin the factual state of the centers for technology transfer in Bulgaria. The event was organized by the Institute of creative industries and business in cooperation with the Bulgarian patent office. Among the participants in the forum were representatives of academic community, the Ministry of education and science, the Ministry of economy and other govenmental institution, business associations, centers for technology transfer and others. The moderator of the meetings was prof. dr. Vladia Borissova, director of the Institute of creative industries and business. 

I thank the rectors of universities where there are centers for technology transfer, the Ministry of education and science, the Ministry of economy, for facing the problems that will be discussed today and the business, the four nationally represented employer organizations with which the UNWE has working contracts. They all responded accordingly, which gave the opportunity for a successful completion of the first stage, that involved the filling and analysis of questionnaires by WIPO.  We have the understanding of all participants for the beginning of the second stage. I am certain that it will be successfull and in the end we will achieve results and present them to the attention of all interested institutions and indicate to them once again that the subject we deal with is one of not just the present but also the future. Once again I thank all the participants for their contribution in our joint work."

I've probably said it a thousand times before: look at Harvard - 27 billion a year of extra revenue mainly from sold licenses. Well, we will not win 27 billion, but why not gain from and for Bulgarian science at least 1-2 billion. Isn’t that of help for both the budget and the university? This resistance is not understandable. That is why the WIPO Mission is very timely, and if they have to make any conclusions about Bulgaria, it should be pointed out that while this regulatory problem is not solved, the university technology transfer centers will only exist in a half-life within a book and will not be able to realize the purpose for which they were created. "

Dr. Petko Nikolov pointed out that the University of National and World Economy is the most suitable place for discussion at a high academic level on a topic of significance for the prosperity of our country. According to him, Bulgaria can be the place where people have the freedom and the opportunity to realize their potential, as well as to direct their ambitions, life and professionalism in the direction they want. It is therefore very important to optimize the national technology transfer policy, which will contribute to solving the problems of intellectual property and the development of innovative business in our country.

Mrs. Zlatina Karova said that Ministry of Education and Science supports the development of intellectual property. She presented the specific tasks the Ministry has set in its program to increase the level of development of the intellectual property management system, to establish a link in business-science relations to commercialize intellectual property and to support the activities of technology transfer centers in Bulgaria.

Ms. Tihomira Palova (UNWE graduate) congratulated the organizers on behalf of the Ministry of Economy and expressed the readiness of the Ministry to establish feedback and work together to remove barriers and solve the problems of technology transfer centers as a link between science and business. For this purpose, the Ministry has prepared a strategy that provides financial support to technology transfer centers. It is also planned to create a special fund for their support.

Deputy Chairman of Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce - Petar Denev expressed his admiration to the organizers of the initiative for the discussion - part of the WIPO Mission, to seek a cure for the Bulgarian economy and our convergence in the European family in the conditions of the fierce world race, which sets higher laths. He pointed out ten Bulgarian innovative solutions in different spheres and stressed that the future is to create a cure for the knowledge economy to prove that there are talented scientists and scientific achievements in Bulgaria that need to find their application.

On behalf of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), the organizers were welcomed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yosif Avramov, Chairman of the BCCI Innovation Council and a member of the BCCI Management Board, who pointed out that the business wants to enter the universities and that this is why new mechanisms are needed. He focused on funding opportunities for technology transfer centers by using financial instruments and grants and highlighted the benefits of grant funding.

Ms Olga Spasic thanked the organizers for their support for the WIPO mission related to technology transfer centers. According to her, if the lack of regulation of the activity and financing of the centers is of national levels, the main question - who owns research - should be considered globally. She focused on the goals and activities of the WIPO Mission and expressed the readiness of the organization to fully cooperate in creating the necessary regulations and policies to turn technology transfer centers into working systems.

For three days, Ashley Stevens, an international expert at the University of Oxford, who has managed the Technology Transfer Center at Boston University, talked to the participants and analyzed the factual situation to write a report with recommendations for future coordinated actions between state institutions, business associations, academic communities, technology transfer centers and businesses.

For three days, Ashley Stevens, an international expert at the University of Oxford, who has managed the Technology Transfer Center at Boston University, talked to the participants and analyzed the factual situation to write a report with recommendations for future coordinated actions between state institutions, business associations, academic communities, technology transfer centers and businesses.