Guests from various institutions, lecturers and students participated in the green initiative ,,Green Days at MU – Sofia 20-23.04.2023″ in honor of Earth Day 2023. ,,Green Days” is organized for the first time as part of the university green policy under the Project BI4E and promises to become a traditional local forum for discussing of key topics in research on “Innovation and Climate Change” and green transition. The moderator of the event was Prof. Tsvetalina Tankova, Vice-rector for International integration and project funding.
The project ,,Boosting INGENIUM for Excellence” (BI4E) is an initiative under ,,Horizon Europe” Programme and Medical university – Sofia is beneficiary organisation for the period 10.2022 – 10.2025. Prof. Ts. Tankova presented the objectives of BI4E, respectively for its WPs, and introduced the other associate partners universities that are part of the alliance. She emphasized the significant role of the project to give a new impetus to the European University ,,INGENIUM” and turn it into an effective tool for promoting excellence in partner institutions, with a special focus on members in the so-called WIDENING COUNTRIES in Horizon Europe -Romania and Bulgaria.
The Vice Rector for international relations, accreditation and quality at Medical university – Varna, Prof. Todorka Kostadinova, presented the steps for green policy and digitalization in her institution, followed by the representative of the Medical University – Pleven, Mr. Hristo Dochev, who outlined the steps involved in the university program to transform the main building into a modern space, built according to the latest energy-saving measures and the planned green areas. Assoc. Dr. Angel Dzambov from Medical University – Plovdiv also presented the actions of his university to adapt to climate change in the context of EU strategies in the field of scientific research and innovation to achieve a green and digital transition.
The project ,,Boosting INGENIUM for Excellence” (BI4E) is an initiative under ,,Horizon Europe” Programme and Medical university – Sofia is beneficiary organisation for the period 10.2022 – 10.2025. Prof. Ts. Tankova presented the objectives of BI4E, respectively for its WPs, and introduced the other associate partners universities that are part of the alliance. She emphasized the significant role of the project to give a new impetus to the European University ,,INGENIUM” and turn it into an effective tool for promoting excellence in partner institutions, with a special focus on members in the so-called WIDENING COUNTRIES in Horizon Europe -Romania and Bulgaria.
A special guest was Prof. Dr. Boyan Zhekov, Bulgarian National Coordinator for the ,,Horizon Europe” Programme, who introduced the attendees to the program projects in the field of scientific research and innovation for the period 2021-2027. The presentation of Mrs. Kristina Eskenazi, chairman of the management board of the Bulgarian Health and Life Cluster, co-founder and member of the board of the Bulgarian Society for Biological Sciences, aroused great interest. She spoke on the topic. Partnership between universities, municipalities and industry for adaptation to climate change, presenting innovative companies in Bulgaria and emphasizing the extreme importance of a multidisciplinary approach and the connection between business and science.
On the last day of the BI4E local info day, a hike was held in the Vitosha Natural Park, in which students, lecturers, university staff and partners walked along the route Dragalevtsi – Dragalevski Monastery – Alekovo Waterfalls and enjoyed the wonderful spring weather, fresh air and renewing nature.
Program
First BI4E #GREEN Local Info Day (20.04.2023)
13:00 p.m. (EEST) – Registration of the participants
13:30 p.m. (EEST) – Opening of the event by the Rector of MU-Sofia.
14:00 p.m. (EEST) – ,,Green policies and solutions for the city of Sofia – Mrs. Desislava Bileva, deputy mayor of Sofia Municipality for ,,Green system, ecology and land use”.
14:30 p.m. (EEST) – Digitization in Bulgarian healthcare and the National Health Information System (NHIS) – Mr. Boris Kostadinov, Director of ,,Software Integration at Information Service JSC”.
15:00 – 15:30 p.m. (EEST) – Coffee break.
15:30 p.m. (EEST) – ,,Health challenges of global climate change” and presentation of Student Network ,,Air for Health” – Prof. Anzhelika Velkova, Faculty of Public Health ,,Prof. Dr. Tsekomir Vodenicharov, PhD”. 16:00 p.m. (EEST) – In silico – approaches for green science and innovation, developed in the Laboratory of Drug Design and Bioinformatics of the Medical University – Sofia – Prof. Ivan Dimitrov, Faculty of Pharmacy,the Academic Coordinator of the project GIANT LEAPS “Gap resolutIon in sAfety, Nutritional, alLergenicity and Environmental assessments to promote Alternative Protein utilization and the dietary shift” .
16:30 p.m. (EEST) – The Boosting Ingenium for Excellence (BI4E) – round table on the topic The relevance of regional divides for the green transition and challenges to universities futures – Prof. Tsvetalina Tankova, Deputy Rector for International Integration and Project Financing, MU – Sofia, Magdalena Kasnakova, Simeon Manolov.
Second BI4E #GREEN Local Info Day (21.04.2023)
13:00 p.m. (EEST) – Registration of the participants
13:30 p.m. (EEST) – Presentation of the BI4E project – Prof. Tsvetalina Tankova, Deputy Rector for International Integration and Project Financing, MU – Sofia, “Actions of the medical universities in Bulgaria to adapt the national high education to the global climate change”.
14:00 p.m. (EEST) – The chairman of the “Horizon Europe” program for Bulgaria, Prof. Dr. Boyan Zhekov – for the upcoming new projects calls of the program in the field of scientific research and innovation for the period 2021-2027.
15:00 – 15:30 p.m. (EEST) – Coffee break.
15:30 p.m. (EEST) – “Partnership between universities, municipalities and industry for adaptation to climate” – Christina Eskenazi, Chair of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Health and Life Cluster, co-founder and board member of the Bulgarian Society for Biological Sciences.
16:00 p.m. (EEST) Workshop on the BI4E info-days and dissemination events – ,,Тhe relevance of regional divides for the green transition and challenges to universities futures” – Prof. Tsvetalina Tankova, Magdalena Kasnakova, Simeon Manolov.
Third BI4E #GREEN Local Info Day (22.04.2023)
12:30 p.m. (EEST) – Hike to Vitosha mountain – for professors, students and employees from MU – Sofia. Route: Dragalevtsi – Dragalevski monastery – Alek waterfalls
Duration of the transition: 2 hours and 30 minutes Start: 12:30 p.m. (EEST)
Starting point: the square in Dragalevtsi quarter (next to the fountain).
