Grand opening of the Bulgarian “Scientific and Applied Centre” within the National SHARE Research Infrastructure

Specialised research centre has been established on 23 of July 2019 at the building of the Institute for the Study of the Societies and Knowledge at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (ISSK-BAS). This research centre is created and equipped within the National Research Infrastructure and Consortium “SHARE-Bulgaria”, funded by the Ministry of Education and Science and the National Roadmap for Research Infrastructures (2017-2023) (Д01-162/28.08.2018). The national consortium is formed by ISSK-BAS and Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.

The “SHARE Bulgaria” Scientific and Applied Centre provides scientific expertise, survey methodology education and research support for scientists and public administration, based on data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).

The event was attended by Mrs. Karina Angelieva – deputy minister of education and science of the Republic of Bulgaria, prof. Yoanna Spasova-Dikova – scientific secretary of the Bulgarian Academy, as well as ISSK-BAS management representatives, media, and researchers.

Dr. Ekaterina Markova, senior research fellow at ISSK-BAS and national coordinator of the consortium of the national RI “SHARE Bulgaria” welcomed the audience and pointed out that the event is really solemn – this is celebration of the “birth” of a national scientific infrastructure in social sciences, supporting the future work of Bulgarian researchers, experts and public administration with SHARE.

In her greetings, Ms. Angelieva highlighted the importance of the national SHARE research infrastructure and the need for politicians to consistently and steadily convincing themselves about the opportunities it provides by analyzing data not only for Bulgaria but putting our country in a European context.

Dr. Markova presented the 12-months’ work of the national consortium: informational events and specialised seminars among more than 150 stakeholders, visualisation and dissemination of SHARE research and policy potential among the general public, program for Bulgarian research publications, based on SHARE. Ass. prof. Boriana Bogdanova from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” presented 3 university courses within the national research infrastructure ”SHARE Bulgaria” project for Master and PhD students, using SHARE data.