site.btaBulgarian, Dutch Scientists Collaborate on 300-Plus Projects

Minister of Education and Science Galin Tzokov and the Dutch Ambassador to Bulgaria, Simon van der Burg, conferred here, the Education Ministry's press service reported on Wednesday. Bulgarian and Dutch scientists collaborate in international consortia on projects under the European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation in 307 consortia.

Tzokov said he would be glad to see the cooperation between the two countries and their universities deepen. He said that opportunities will be sought to expand joint scientific work for research teams.

The Netherlands hosts five Bulgarian Sunday schools that teach nearly 500 pupils. Tzokov emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two countries in order for the schools to be able to develop.

More than 5,100 Bulgarians study at universities in the Netherlands, while Dutch students attend medical universities here. Most Bulgarian students in Dutch higher education institutions have chosen majors related to applied and technical sciences. "Some of them return and start working in Bulgaria, which is important for your country," van der Burg noted. He pointed out that the Embassy is in touch with many of the Bulgarian graduates. "They are a very interesting and promising group of young people who we can call ambassadors," van der Burg added. He congratulated all Bulgarian pupils, students and teachers on the start of the new school year here.