BCCI conducted electronically a survey among members of the Chamber, incl. branch organizations, on the role of innovation in business and cooperation with universities.
According to BCCI members, the main reasons for the failure of innovation are uncertainty in the economic plan and the lack of funding, the burden of administrative procedures under OP Competitiveness, which finances innovative projects, and the lack of qualified staff.
In 2015 the preferred sources for obtaining innovative solutions are mainly company partners from abroad (according to 30% of the respondents), company partners from Bulgaria - 25%, and the purchase of a license for an established product - 15%. Indicative is the fact that the number of companies that rely on partnership with research institutes and universities in Bulgaria is reducing (37% in 2013), and now it is 10% - with Bulgarian scientific institutes, and 0.00% with universities.
Cooperation with research institutes and universities significantly reduces - it comes down to hiring trainees and training - for 44% of the respondents (67% in 2012), and for advisory services for implementation – according to 22% of the respondents.
Entrepreneurs in 2015 increasingly rely on their own abilities - their own studies, as per 64.7% of the respondents in comparison with 23% in 2013.
The survey results show that the insufficient awareness of the business for scientific development, and the low activity of the universities are the two main barriers to collaboration between business and science. The weak activity of the universities/research institutes to disclose their studies is noted by 70% of the respondents.