Programme: Programme "Research, Innovation and Digitalisation for Smart Transformation"

Despite the initial investments in scientific infrastructure through the National Roadmap for Scientific Infrastructure together with the Regional and Structural Funds of the European Union, coordinated efforts are necessary to transition the biomedical sector in Bulgaria towards scientific excellence and an innovation-driven economy at the level of advanced EU countries. This proposal aims to establish a world-class Biomedical Research and Technology Centre, which will accelerate life and health science research and innovation (R&I) through the convergence of state-of-the-art technologies and advanced research directions. This centre is a joint initiative of leading research institutions in Bulgaria, Germany, and France: the Roumen Tsanev Institute of Molecular Biology in Sofia as the coordinator, with advanced partners Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden and Institut Curie in Paris. The BioMedRTC project will integrate molecular and cell biology technologies with approaches from the mathematical and physical sciences to advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of rare diseases and cancer, contributing to the development of novel diagnostic and treatment modalities. The Centre will provide a strong early-career support structure for independent young principal investigators, students and postdocs to create a vibrant R&I environment. BioMedRTC will improve the quality of healthcare in Bulgaria by providing cutting edge technologies and services, know-how and collaborative research opportunities to hospitals, clinical laboratories, and SMEs. By performing excellent fundamental and translational research, promoting international collaboration and fostering necessary structural reforms, BioMedRTC will serve as an accelerator of innovation in biomedicine, reversing the tendency for outflow for skilled biomedical scientists and thus making Bulgaria globally competitive and a worthy contributor to European research prowess.