Maria Gabriel: Bulgaria can be one of the valleys of hydrogen

How to make the challenges of the Green Transition a strategy for growth, a strategy for jobs, and to make it clear in every region of Europe that this is a fair process that benefits the people? This issue was raised by the Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Maria Gabriel during her participation in the international forum "Green Transition - Challenges and Solutions for Bulgaria", organized by Dir.bg and 3eNews.

"I will focus on the answer that can be given within the department for which I am responsible. I believe that investment and reforms are needed to turn challenges into opportunities. Here, too, science and innovation play a key role, skills and investment in education, very closely linked to regional policy, "explained Maria Gabriel.

She focused on investment in the first place, through the Horizon Europe and Erasmus + programs.

The good news is that in the last year we have managed to win a budget that we have not had before. The Horizon Europe program will have a budget of 95.5 billion euros, making it the largest public program for investment in science and innovation in the world ", announced the MEP. She added that the Erasmus + program will have a double budget of 28 billion euros.

"This allows us to focus on investing not only in higher education but also in vocational education," she explained.

According to her, within the framework of the "Horizon Europe" program, 35% of the budget will be directed, namely to the realization of the climate goals.

Maria Gabriel reminded that the first direct investments in supporting the green transition were made through the Horizon 2020 program. In September 2020, a call for projects with a budget of 1 billion euros was announced. So far, 73 projects have been approved, and there are 14 Bulgarian organizations in them, which have won funding for 10 projects.

Central and Eastern Europe has a very strong competitive advantage - these are innovation ecosystems, said Maria Gabriel.

He added that in order for them to be able to meet the challenges within the Green Transition and bring benefits that are not only short-term, but also long-term, interaction is needed.

Maria Gabriel pointed out that the European Innovation Council finances companies focused on truly breakthrough technologies.

"Right here, when we talk about green technologies, I want to share that Europe is extremely well positioned, as are Central and Eastern Europe. 42% of all start-ups in the world working in the energy sector are European. We have a very strong demand that by supporting these companies there will be benefits at regional and local level ", the EU Commissioner explained.

Maria Gabriel added that innovation plays a key role in this process.

"The transfer of research results to industry needs to be accelerated. And here, for the first time, joint technology roadmaps between business and industry will be developed," she explained.

Investing in hydrogen technology is extremely important, said Maria Gabriel. He added that it is funded by the Horizon Europe program.

"Why shouldn't Bulgaria be one of the valleys of hydrogen," she added. He added that the approach of the European Commission takes into account the specifics of the regions.

The other sector that Maria Gabriel paid attention to is the bioeconomy.

"The opportunities there are great and we have a bold request from companies that are known not only at European but also worldwide," she explained. According to her, the bioeconomy sector is financed with 9 billion euros under the next Horizon Europe program.