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Български 
- Friday, 22 December 2023
The Prime Minister Acad. Nikolay Denkov inaugurated the new building of the Center of Competence "Clean&Circle", located in the Lozenets campus of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". The total project value amounts to over 23 million BGN. The Prime Minister emphasized that it is a pleasure for him to attend such events. "I know how many difficulties the people involved in this project had to overcome. On one hand, the scientists had to acquire new knowledge and skills to adapt to the continuous challenges that arose, and accordingly, to find ways to collaborate with institutions to achieve positive results. Huge thanks for the efforts you have invested," Prime Minister Denkov addressed the project creators and the scientists at Sofia University.
The Center was established under project BG05M2OP001-1.002-0019-С07 "Clean Technologies for a Sustainable Environment – Water, Waste, Energy for a Circular Economy", funded by the Operational Programme "Science and Education for Smart Growth". The new building will host laboratories and equipment enabling Bulgarian scientists to conduct world-class research.
Among the official guests were the Rector of Sofia University Prof. Georgi Valchev, Prof. Anastas Gerdzhikov – Rector of Alma Mater (2015-2023) and Chair of the Project Management Board, Prof. Dr. Habil. Georgi Vaysilov, Executive Director of the Executive Agency "Education Programme", Prof. Yana Topalova – Project Coordinator, Deputy Minister of Education and Science Prof. Genka Petrova, Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth Georgi Angelov, Mayor of Lozenets District Konstantin Pavlov, deans of faculties at Sofia University, professors, students, and guests.
The new building will be owned by Sofia University, making it the latest and most significant expansion of the university’s infrastructure, coinciding with the 135th anniversary of Bulgaria’s oldest higher education institution. It also allows for the effective utilization of the grounds between the Faculty of Physics and the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy.
An important part of the Center of Competence’s work is the opportunity for technology transfer from science to the real economy. Therefore, the building includes spaces for meetings between researchers and business representatives, as well as conference halls, in addition to numerous laboratories.
The Rector wished the entire team good luck, noting that the coming years will be even more challenging, as it is difficult to construct a building and equip it. "But to truly make it operational, to truly create innovations, that is the great challenge, and I sincerely wish it to all colleagues," said Prof. Valchev.
