First scientific meeting under the project “Clean Technologies for Sustainable Environment – Water, Waste, Energy for Circular Economy”.

The first scientific meeting under the project BG05M2OP001-1.002-0019: “Clean Technologies for Clean Environment – Water, Waste, Energy for Circular Economy” (Clean & Circle) was held for the creation and development of a Competence Center.

The meeting was held on December 4, 2018 hosted by the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy (UACEG), a project partner. The aim of the meeting was to consolidate the research teams and review the completed and forthcoming project tasks.

The project is funded under the Operational Program “Science and Education for Smart Growth”, co-funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund. Its total value is BGN 23 667 925.86, of which BGN 20 117 736.97 European and BGN 3 550 188.89, national co-funding. The lead project partner is Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” with partners: University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy; Forestry University; University “Prof. Assen Zlatarov” – Bourgas; Institute of Physical Chemistry – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Institute of Organic Chemistry with Center of Phytochemistry-BAS; Institute of Microbiology – BAS; “Cleantech Bulgaria” Foundation. Associated partners of the project are: Sofia Municipality with Sofia Waste Treatment Plant, Sofiyska Voda AD, Interplast BG Ltd., Energy Agency – Plovdiv, University Modena, Italy.

The event was attended by 70 representatives of the beneficiaries and the associated partners, as well as representatives of the Managing Authority of the Operational Program “Science and Education for Smart Growth”.

The forum was opened with the greeting of Clean & Circle Coordinator Prof. Yana Topalova of the Biological Faculty of Sofia University, who expressed her joy at the fact that, despite the administrative difficulties encountered in implementing the project, the scientific community is ready to meet the challenges. She pointed out the support from the Managing Authority of the Operational Program in overcoming the difficulties.

The meeting was comprised of one representative and one working session. During the first session, senior partner researchers presented their teams, their main areas of work and project activities. During the second session the participants were divided into groups according to project work packages to identify specific organizational measures and to plan their upcoming tasks.

The associated partners once again demonstrated their strong support for the project with the presence of their teams. Galina Simeonova from the Waste Management Directorate of Sofia Municipality is ready not only to implement the project results, but also to provide information on current problems and case studies as well as opportunities for the implementation of pilot solutions. “Research needs to be applied into practice more rapidly in order to see real results,” said Ms Simeonova.

“For Sofiyska Voda AD this is a strategic project,” said Stanislav Stanev, director of the Exploitation and Maintenance Directorate of the company. “Today we have seen new topics we can not wait to cooperate on,” he said.

Energy Agency – Plovdiv and Modena University – Italy also confirmed their willingness to cooperate.

This was the first of a series of scientific meetings planned under the project. It moves to an excellent organization created by the UACEG hosts and creates the necessary preconditions for the successful implementation of the forthcoming scientific and applied activities.