site.btaResearch and Innovation Week Kicks Off in Plovdiv

The 12th International Scientific Conference of the Professor Tsvetan Lazarov Defence Institute opened here on Thursday. The conference is the first event of the Week of Research and Innovation, which is held under the auspices of the Belgian EU Council Presidency within the 16th International Defence Equipment and Services Exhibition "HEMUS 2024".

The conference is accompanied by two workshops, one on using satellite data for disaster risk management and another on space for a sustainable future. A hackathon on space for a green, sustainable and secure Europe will be held from June 7 to 8. 

Addressing the forum, caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said: "This year's Hemus international exhibition is being held in a special situation, dictated by the radical changes in the field of defence and security in Europe, as a result of Russia's aggression in Ukraine and the lessons learned from the military actions of the last two years."

"Innovation, technology and industry have returned to the field of military capability. For many years, Bulgaria and the European Union underestimated their role and did not invest enough. As e result, Europe's defence industry, and even the US to a certain extent, downgraded its capabilities. This year has taught us that, apart from the human factor, apart from the quantitative factor, technological superiority plays a huge role in the course of warfare. We don't have a war between two military powers: we have a war of technology and innovation, a war of scientific and research organizations in the belligerent countries who meet the needs on the battlefield," Zapryanov added.

The Ministry of Defence has an ambition to reach 1% of the defence budget for innovation in 2032. In countries with serious intentions in rearmament, development and technology, this percentage is at least 2%. To reach 1% or 80 million-100 million for investment, the Ministry needs to change its defence policy on innovation, Zapryanov said.

The Minister thanked the Ambassador of Belgium to Bulgaria, Frederic Meurice, and the President of EURISY, Senator Dominique Tillmans, for including the international conference in the priorities of the Belgian EU Presidency.