site.btaEU Innovation Commissioner Ivanova Addresses Bulgaria's Key Role in Brain Research

Addressing Bulgaria's key position and role in significant achievements and research on brain function, diseases, and prevention is really important, EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Iliana Ivanova said here on Tuesday.

Ivanova spoke before the start of a session of the 24th European Congress of Neurosurgery, which opened in Sofia on October 13.

"I expect a comprehensive discussion on the current and future challenges in neurosurgery," she said. "I want to assure all participants that they can continue to count on the European Union's strong support and recognition for this research," she added.

The new European Commission is about to take office, and its President, Ursula von der Leyen, said that innovation and research will be crucial in the upcoming term. A main focus will be boosting the competitiveness of the European economy, Ivanova said. She added that promoting innovation and research is essential to keeping pace with partners and competitors.

Innovations in healthcare, including research, have great potential to boost competitiveness, Ivanova said. She pointed out that research is essential for tackling demographic challenges and their impacts. The prevention and treatment of diseases like dementia and other brain disorders demand efforts on multiple levels, Ivanova added. Sufficient funding, infrastructure, patient care, and technology are needed.

The EU's largest public program, Horizon Europe, allocates around EUR 7 billion for scientific projects related to brain research, Ivanova emphasized. The European Innovation Council helps bridge the gap between research and the market, she added. "We want innovative health startup projects to have equal opportunities, to expand, and to remain in the EU", Ivanova said.