The ORBIT Project – Open Research Bulgarian Incubator is a joint initiative between the Centre for Information Society Technologies (CSIT), Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and the NGO Links. The goal is to support the development of open and responsible research and innovation (ORRI) in Bulgaria.
The new Law on the Promotion of Scientific Research and Innovation, adopted in May 2024, sets a legislative framework for the development of open science, but its implementation is a challenge for stakeholders - young scientists, experienced researchers, universities, public authorities, businesses, non-governmental organisations and citizens. To ensure that the project will achieve institutional change, we are partnering with the Open Science Working Group at the Ministry of Science and Education. Bulgaria has its achievements in open data and open access, but a number of challenges still remain. Open data, open methodologies, and citizen participation in scientific projects are not sufficiently integrated into real scientific developments. Responsible scientific practices are not yet institutionalised as part of the scientific process.
The focus of our project is Sofia University, the largest and oldest higher education institution in Bulgaria, because we believe that the impact that the University can achieve at the national level is significant for the Bulgarian scientific community, and at the same time, can rank it among the innovators at the European level.
Objectives:
- Developing a common vision for open and responsible research and innovation (ORRI) through co-creation and the participation of key stakeholders – researchers, administrators, citizens, business, media, NGOs and others.
- Training young scientists and PhD students to apply open science methodologies and tools to increase the number of young and experienced scientists applying elements of open science.
- Promoting the use of different elements of open science – open access scientific publications, open data, use of open methodologies, citizen science and others, by improving the understanding of open science among citizens and exploring public attitudes. In this way, the gap between the adopted legislative framework and the practice of scientific researchers is filled.
- Developing materials and tools for open and responsible science, which include a handbook for researchers and a self-assessment questionnaire that helps practically apply open science in the research.
- Establishing a Laboratory for Open Science Research at Sofia University ensures sustainability and future dissemination of the accumulated knowledge and good practices.
Our work plan combines the co-creation approach for a national vision for open and responsible research, innovations for the inclusion of stakeholders – academia and governance, public authorities and citizens, upgrading skills with the help of leading European experts in the establishment of the Open Science Research Laboratory at Sofia University – Eva Mendez, Sara Di Giorgio, Marta Teperek. The Bulgarian team, advised by Assoc. Prof. Milena Dobreva (University of Strathclyde, Glasgow), includes representatives of the scientific community, pioneers in the field of open science in Bulgaria, actively participating in the EOSC network: Prof. Krasen Stefanov (SU "St. Kliment Ohridski"), Prof. Ana Proykova (SU "St. Kliment Ohridski"), Dr. Albena Antonova (SU "St. Kliment Ohridski"), Ana Lazarova (SU "St. Kliment Ohridski" and the Digital Republic Association), as well as trainers and practitioners.
The idea is to create something new, useful and interesting at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". As part of the REINFORCING project, a Balkan-wide network, this initiative is designed to grow, yielding significant future benefits through valuable contacts and collaborations.