| Abstract: |
With a view to maximise the impact of EU Cohesion Policy and RRP investments
in the field of Research and Innovation (R&I) in Bulgaria, Croatia and
Romania, this report provides a strategic evaluation of the three countries’
Technology Transfer systems with concrete recommendations for enhancing
academia-industry collaboration and research commercialisation. The report
aims to help Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania to build up effective Research and
Innovation (R&I) systems, in particular through the strengthening of
Technology Transfer (TT) and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). The report is
the result of extensive research, primarily interviews and consultations with
approximately 100 stakeholders, the majority of which from academia
(Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) at Universities and Research Institutes)
and government authorities (ministries; agencies at national and, where
relevant, regional level), as well as some industry representatives, cluster
associations and other innovation-focused stakeholders (science and technology
parks, incubators, accelerators) from the three countries at focus. The
interviews were conducted in the second half of 2022 and first half of 2023.
This study presents a country-by-country analysis of the technology transfer
landscape; regulatory frameworks, skills-capacities-capabilities;
academia-industry collaboration dynamics; financing instruments and
mechanisms; patenting of academic inventions, among others. The targeted
findings and recommendations contained in the three country-focused chapters
are followed by two horizontally-applicable chapters on Financing mechanism
and capacity building activities; and TT Tools and IP Guidelines, which have a
relevance to and could benefit all three countries. The work was commissioned
by DG REGIO to the Joint Research Centre, which coordinated and directed the
group of independent experts that authored the present report. |