Minister Stoicheva: MIG will create a Council for Innovations at MIG

We are preparing the establishment of an Innovation Council at the Ministry of Innovation and Growth. It is extremely important that representatives of the scientific community, business, startups and funding organizations participate in it. The goal is to work for sustainability of the innovation ecosystem by involving all stakeholders. For example, to create common solutions in the Healthcare sector, it is important to involve both entrepreneurs, innovators, medical professionals and scientists. Therefore, a longer-term strategy is needed, which will be developed over the years, rather than being the priority of one government for one term. This was stated by the Minister of Innovation and Growth, Milena Stoicheva.

She participated in a conference "For a more sustainable healthcare system in Bulgaria" in Sofia, organized by the Bulgarian-Swiss, American and German-Bulgarian chambers of commerce. The event was attended by the Ministers of Health Prof. Dr. Hristo Hinkov and Ministers of e-Government Alexander Yolovski, Prof. Rifat Atun, responsible for global health systems at the Department of Public Health at Harvard University, USA, as well as representatives of professional and sector associations.

"Innovations are the key to change in healthcare in our country. Through investments in this sector, we can change the ideas about health care in our country - from the topics of problems to topics of opportunities," said Stoicheva.

She emphasized that innovations in a certain area cannot be realized by only one ministry, but are a model and strategy for the vision and work of several institutions. "We are working with all ministries to develop innovations in different sectors. If each institution and sphere works independently, it will again lead to individual actions that do not lead to a better effect for the economy," explained the minister.

"The topic of digitization of healthcare is extremely important, but it is not the only one. A general policy is needed in relation to medical personnel and the development of the capacity of the entire health sector, which interacts with all other sectors," Minister Stoycheva also stated.

She recalled that under the program for innovations in enterprises (PIE) two procedures will be opened for applications for Bulgarian companies - for the development of innovations and for their implementation. "There is a significant resource set aside for them," the minister said. Under the two procedures for developing and implementing innovations, small and medium-sized companies will have access to BGN 420 million.