Since 2006, members of EURAXESS Bulgaria have organised 12 European Researchers Nights (ERN), and have attracted several new consortium members with different profiles – universities, research institutes, NGOs, entrepreneurs. Based on past experience, the main goal of Researchers in the Knowledge Triangle (K-TRIO 4) project is to bring researchers closer to society, attract young people to STEM and boost citizens science. The project will contribute for increasing the number of researchers and innovators in Bulgaria by making the society, and young people, aware of excellent European achievements in research and innovation, and of the success of Centres of Excellence (CoE) and Centres of Competence and their contribution to the Intelligent Strategy for Smart Specialisation in Bulgaria and regional development. Aware of the need of changing stereotypes and nurturing a new culture in research and innovation, the consortium will make young people aware of the multiple career paths of researchers (incl. MSC fellows), best-practice examples of researchers achievements, and research infrastructure in Bulgaria. Special emphasis will be made on European policy and on funding for research and innovation provided by EU RTD programs and Structural Funds. With a large variety of pre-events, online activities and 2-days ERN events in many Bulgarian cities, the project will create greater understanding on how research and innovation contribute for well-being of people and sustainable development, and highlight the common European efforts for building Digital Single market, Factories of the Future, Smart Cities, and take full advantage of BIG Data and Cloud computing. With the involvement of all CoE UNITe partners, and their large network, in addition to EURAXESS Bulgaria, K-TRIO 4 will cover all Bulgarian regions. Forum Science will guide a professional science communication, and ensure greater visibility of K-TRIO 4 activities.

Since 2006, members of EURAXESS Bulgaria have organized 13 European Researchers Nights (ERN), and have attracted several new consortium members with different profiles - universities, research institutes, NGOs, entrepreneurs. Based on past experience, the main goal of Researchers in the Knowledge Triangle (K-TRIO 5) project is to bring researchers closer to society, attract young people to STEM and boost Citizens Science. The project will contribute for increasing the number of researchers in Bulgaria by making the society, and young people, aware of excellent European achievements in research and innovation (R&I), and of the Centers of Excellence (CoE) and Centers of Competence and their contribution to green, smart and sustainable regional development. In 2020 the consortium made several steps for changing stereotypes and nurturing a new culture in R&I, and making young people aware of the multiple career paths of researchers (incl. MSC fellows), best-practice examples of researchers achievements, and research infrastructure in Bulgaria. Special emphasis will be made on European policy and on funding for R&I provided by EU RTD programs and Structural Funds. With a large variety of pre-events, online activities and 2-days ERN events in many Bulgarian cities, the project will create greater understanding on how R&I contribute to well-being of people and sustainable development, and highlight the common European efforts for Green and Digital transformation, building Smart Cities, and taking full advantage of BIG Data, Artificial Intelligence and Cloud computing. With the involvement of all CoE UNITe partners, and their large network, in addition to EURAXESS Bulgaria, K-TRIO 5 will cover all Bulgarian regions. Forum Science will guide a professional science communication, and ensure greater visibility of project activities.

FRESH (Find Research Everywhere and SHare) is led by the Center for Research and Analysis with 13 partners and 5 associated partners. The Consortium includes Bulgaria’s first technological park, a chamber of industry and commerce, a pan-European organisation, leading research organisations, academia, and media. The aim is to create a series of participatory and media events to promote research careers, aimed in particular towards young people and their parents. Building on existing understanding developed through previous local initiatives including Researchers Night, and with reference to Europe-wide research like the Special Eurobarometer 401, as well as the MASIS report and the in-depth Education and Training Monitor 2015 for Bulgaria , the focus of this 20-month programme will be on enhancing the public understanding of and engagement with science. Core activities during the Night will include a digital participatory campaign to engage audiences across the country; international live streaming; science city quests and quizzes; science cafes; hands-on experiments; science shows; simulations; games and competitions. Thematic programmes will include, among other, food and nutrition, inspired by 2016 International Year of Pulses , engineering, oceanology, innovation and business incubators, technological transfer, medicine, and others. The on-the-ground activities will take place in the largest cities including several where Researchers Night has not been marked. Innovation will be an intricate part of the events through the use of online technology to enhance the physical activity, engage particularly young audiences and to guarantee sustainability outside the lifespan of the project. The activities of the first year will allow learning to accrue from a thorough evaluation. The project will strengthen the capabilities of the partners in organising events for a general audience, and for underserved audiences, including girls and people with hearing disabilities.

In 2006, Sofia University (K-TRIO coordinator) as EURAXESS bridgehead organisation involved the newly established Bulgarian network in the first Researchers Night. Since then, it organised 14 European Researchers Nights, and attracted several new partners from education, research and industry. The overall K-TRIO objective coincides with the goal of the MSCA & Citizens action: "to bring research and researchers closer to the public at large, to increase the awareness of research and innovation activities and to boost public recognition of science and research education", and “to show the role of researchers for science and economy, as well as the impact of researchers’ work on citizens’ daily lives”. The strategic long-term objectives are: fostering the interest of young talents to STEAM and research career, nurturing a new culture of creativity, scientific curiosity, innovative spirit and responsibility to environmental preservation, as well as enhancing the public readiness to engage in Citizens Science, Open Science and Open Innovation activities. The Consortium will pay due attention in all pre-events and 2022-23 ERNs on the importance of the ERA and EEA, and their synergy, for the European recovery, dual transformation and knowledge-based growth. The project will create greater understanding on EU policy, and how R&I contribute for well-being of people and sustainable development, and highlight the common European efforts for bridging global challenges, building Green Economy and Digital Single market, Smart Cities and Smart Factories, and take full advantage of Clean Technologies, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence, BIG Data and Cloud computing. The R&I role in resolving present COVID crises will be also highlighted. The already established networking with teachers, schools and STEM centres will become well-structured, and will integrate many researchers in mentoring of students or events in secondary schools and partners universities.

REFRESH (Relate, Experience, Find Research Everywhere and SHare) is a 20-month project led by Centre for Research & Analysis with 20 partners and 27 associates. The Consortium includes 14 academic institutions, Bulgaria’s only tech park, a chamber of industry and commerce, the local office of a pan-European organisation, education entrepreneurships and a media outlet. The main ideas on which the proposal relies are coordinated, multi-city and international series events under a single, recognisable brand, with similar (familiar) formats but with fresh (and well communicated) content, led by central multidisciplinary themes in 2018 (European Year of Cultural Heritage) and sport (European Capital of Sport Sofia), and culture (European Capital of Culture Plovdiv 2019). Building on the Consortium’s existing understanding, developed through previous local initiatives including Researchers Night, and addressing findings of research (Special Eurobarometer 401, the MASIS report , the in-depth Education and Training Monitor 2017 for Bulgaria , the recently published Communication on Strengthening the European Identity through Education and Culture , REFRESH focusses on enhancing the public understanding of and engagement with science, encouraging children especially girls, to study STEM subjects. The participatory events will reach 3.6 mln, and engage 80,000 in least 14 cities/towns with live-streaming, face-to-face events at schools, libraries, museums, city venues and public transport, science talks and shows; hands-on experiments, lab visits and citizen science. The activities of the first year will allow learning to accrue from a thorough evaluation. The project will strengthen the capabilities of the partners in organising events for a general audience in open access format, and for underserved audiences, including girls and young people at risk of school drop-out, as well as young people with special needs.