'Cleantech Vision 2026 – Knowledge Transfer between Academia and Industry'

The Center for Clean Technologies and Efficient Use of Biomass is organizing the international conference "Cleantech Vision 2026", which will take place on June 18, 2026, at the Agricultural University – Plovdiv. The main driving force and initiator of the event is Prof. Mandaliev – Head of the Center for Clean Technologies, who actively works on building international partnerships and bridging science with real business.

The conference aims to build a bridge between universities, industry, and the international scientific community, and for the first time in Bulgaria, to clearly demonstrate that the academic environment and business are inextricably linked and must develop together. The theme of the event is "Knowledge Transfer between Academia and Business in Bulgaria", and the main idea is to present and adapt the Swiss model for the practical application of students' knowledge and skills in support of modern business and innovation.

The event will bring together representatives of businesses, universities, international organizations, and innovative companies from Bulgaria and abroad. Among the official speakers are Eng. Plamen Panchev – Executive Director of Trakia Economic Zone (TIZ), as well as Dr. Karina Angelieva – former Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth and former Deputy Minister of Education and Science.

Special guests of the conference are also the partners of the Center for Clean Technologies from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), who have been developing a successful model for knowledge transfer between universities and businesses for years. Among them are Prof. Dr. Salomon Billeter – Professor of Engineering Sciences at FHNW and Executive Director of Sim2Sustain, as well as Dr. Hans Musch – Executive Director of Renergia AG, who has worked closely with universities for years on developing innovations and sustainable business solutions.

The conference is supported by H.E. Pierre Hagmann — Ambassador of Switzerland to Bulgaria, who stands behind the initiative as a symbol of active cooperation between Bulgaria and Switzerland in the fields of science, technology, and sustainable development.

The final part of the event, together with our partners from BASE, will be dedicated to innovators and entrepreneurs who present real solutions for a cleaner business and a sustainable future.

This focus will continue on the second day of our event within the framework of our International Summer School, organized by Dr., Eng. Posen Kosturkov, aimed at doctoral students from various disciplines from the Technical University – Plovdiv, the University of Food Technologies, the Center for Clean Technologies, and the International Center for Science and Technology in Kazakhstan.

Special lecturers in the program will be Prof. Dr. Konstantin Theile, Director at the Swiss Research Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship at the University of St. Gallen, and Dimitar Bozhanski, who will introduce participants to topics on modern leadership, innovation management, and entrepreneurship.

See the full conference program and register to secure your place among professionals, researchers, innovators, and leaders committed to building a more sustainable future HERE

The first Center for Clean Technologies and Biomass Resource Efficiency (CCBRE) in Bulgaria was opened at the Agricultural University on December 9, 2025. The mission of the new Center is to provide a real impetus for deepening the connection between scientific circles and industry. In Bulgaria, companies still partner minimally with universities and scientific institutes when it comes to finding concrete solutions to current problems.

Development of innovative solutions and technologies for sustainable biomass use

The head of the Center for Clean Technologies and Biomass Resource Efficiency is Prof. Petar Mandaliev - a prominent scientist with extensive international experience gained in Germany and Switzerland, and his international team includes scientists and experts in the fields of agrochemistry, artificial intelligence, and technology transfer, among whom is Prof. Dr. Violina Angelova-Rizova.

Supporting the implementation of scientific achievements into practice

The work in the newly established scientific unit is focused on transforming biomass and organic waste into products and energy, reducing pollutants and recycling nutrients, with the additional contribution of integrating digital technologies and artificial intelligence.

Currently, the Center is working on three scientific directions – two dedicated to research on microplastics, and one aimed at developing a new organic fertilizer with a high phosphorus content.

For more information: https://ccbre.eu/