Burgas Free University (BFU) has achieved significant success by winning European funding for an ambitious project under the "Erasmus+" program. This was announced by the university's management, emphasizing the importance of the achievement for the development of education and research in Bulgaria.
The project, titled "Spin over - Strategic promotion of innovation and new media development for entrepreneurial initiatives in education and research", received high recognition from the evaluation committee. With an impressive score of 87 points, it ranked seventh among dozens of competitive proposals from across Europe, which is indicative of its quality and potential.
The funding provided by the European Union amounts to a significant sum of 400,000 euros. The project will be implemented over 32 months, starting from September 1, 2025, and ending on April 30, 2028. This extended period will allow for in-depth development and implementation of the planned initiatives.
The main goal of the project is to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among young researchers and startups originating from the academic environment
BFU explains. As part of the project, modern training materials will be created, focusing on key areas such as scientific communication, digital storytelling, and marketing using artificial intelligence. These materials will be essential for preparing future entrepreneurs and innovators.
One of the most important features of the project is its emphasis on accessibility and international cooperation. It is planned to "create multilingual open educational resources accessible to a wide range of learners in the field of entrepreneurship and digital technologies". This will allow students and young professionals from different countries to benefit from the developed materials and develop their skills in these important areas.
Key project priorities
- Supporting university startups in the difficult transition from research to successful market realization
- Increasing digital literacy and artificial intelligence skills among young innovators
- Building strong and sustainable partnerships between universities, business incubators, and research parks across Europe
To implement this ambitious project, BFU is partnering with a number of prestigious European institutions. These include the Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, Portugal, the University of Patras, Greece, the Warsaw University of Management, Poland, the "EIA SA - Atlântica" University in Barcarena, Portugal, the "Mugla Sitki Kocman" University in Mugla, Turkey, as well as Digital Research & Communication S.R.L. from Rome, Italy. This international collaboration will ensure a rich exchange of experience and ideas, contributing to the high quality of the final results.
The project leader from the Bulgarian side is the rector of Burgas Free University, Prof. Dr. Milen Baltov, whose experience and vision will be crucial for the successful implementation of the set goals.
BFU's success in winning this prestigious European funding is not only recognition of the quality of Bulgarian higher education but also an opportunity to significantly improve the educational infrastructure and promote innovation in the country. The project has the potential to put Bulgaria on the map of European innovation and create new opportunities for young Bulgarian talents in the field of technology and entrepreneurship.