1. LIVING LABS SOUTH-CENTRAL REGION, BULGARIA

1. INVEST Regional Living Lab: Sustainable regional development

Geographical location (country, city/venue): Bulgaria

Short description: 
INVEST Living Lab Sustainable regional development aims at open end-user-oriented innovation and related activities focus on the achievement of excellence in regional sustainability, and more specifically - on the INVEST focal points considering SDGs, as well as national priorities for smart specialization and knowledge management. It provides unique opportunities to implement good practices of learning, sharing ideas and experience, cooperation and teamwork, establishment of strong partnerships and presentation of the results of applied science and education.
The Living Lab addresses the issue of the integrated and sustainable regional development in Bulgaria in the following main directions:
•    Sustainable production and consumption and bio-based industries;
•    Natural and cultural heritage preservation and management;
•    New business models and smart environmental solutions;
•    Green urban and rural environment and quality infrastructure;
•    New systems of access to public services (social and healthcare services, education and training, culture and sports) and capacity development.

The Living Lab was established in 2021.

Projects with participation of Bachelor, Master and PhD students 2026-2027: 
•    Climate, climate change, agriculture, tourism
•    Assessment of tourism resources
•    The living City. The layers of the City and the City as a Laboratory
•    Regional disparities and sustainable development of socio-economic regions in Bulgaria
•    The role of the banking sector for sustainable economic growth
•    Local government budgets as a tool for sustainable development of Bulgarian municipalities
•    The role of project financing for sustainable development of the green economy
•    Improvement of the accounting reporting
•    Current problems of financing school education in Bulgaria
•    Artificial intelligence in the field of integration of higher education and management in the economy of Bulgaria – a step into the digital future
•    Integrated Model for Audit and Regulation of Crypto Assets and Blockchain Transactions in Bulgaria
•    Interconnected urban-rural territories
•    The LEADER approach - expansion and sustainability, opportunities for young people 2021-2027
•    Property in forest territories in the Republic of Bulgaria - perspectives and sustainability in forest management
•    The strategic plan for the development of agriculture and rural areas in Bulgaria and the effect on business, improving the quality of life
•    Lifelong learning platform

Responsible person/contact details
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ekaterina Arabska
earabska@uard.bg
 

2. INVEST Virtual Regional Living Lab: Succession and transfer of family business

Geographical location (country, city/venue): Bulgaria

Short description
The Virtual Living Lab for Succession and transfer of family business was established by a joint team of UARD and RDA BSC SMEs (Regional Development Agency with Business Support Centre for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Plovdiv, Bulgaria).
The overall concept and detailed description and construction of the Virtual Living Lab is based on what was achieved by UARD under the INVEST project, regarding the construction of Living Labs, as well as the activities and exchange of good practices carried out under the STOB for regions project, in which RDA BSC SMEs was a partner.
The Living Lab was established in 2024.

Projects with participation of Bachelor, Master and PhD students: 
•    Financial aspects of transfer and inheritance of a family business
•    Family business and family business transfer and succession in organic production
Other tasks:
•    Comprehensive governance of the transfer and succession process as an integral component of the strategic management of family enterprises
•    The transfer and succession of family businesses – a key factor for the resilience of the business ecosystem and a component of sustainable regional development  

Responsible person/contact details
Assist. Prof. Dr. Eng. Velizar Petrov
velizarpetrov@uard.bg
 

3. INVEST Regional Living Lab: Innovations in the agri-food chain

Geographical location (country, city/venue): Bulgaria

Short description
The Living Lab focuses on the issue of sustainable production and consumption, and particularly high quality and safety of products. The focus on the development process of open innovations in the living lab predetermined the use of the participatory approach in the quadruple helix of research work. 
The Living Lab started its activities with the involvement of key stakeholders:
•    Government, state and municipal bodies, institutions and agencies, including local authorities;
•    Business representatives in the field of agriculture, food industry and tourism, IT, etc.;
•    Research and educational institutions;
•    NGO’s representatives, incl. branch and regional development organizations, industry associations and other;
•    Students, PhD students, researchers, teachers, administrative staff, and local communities and end-user’s representatives, etc.
The opportunities of students’ involvement are of special consideration, particularly emphasizing the need of new training programs and approaches oriented towards the real business and practice for capacity building in sustainable rural development. 
The Living Lab was established in 2025.

Projects with participation of Bachelor, Master and PhD students: 
•    Alternative food chains and new business models
•    Invention of new foods with added value and transfer of knowledge and skills for their preparation

Responsible person/contact details
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dimitar Yakimov
dyakimov@uard.bg