From the laboratory to business: The Agricultural University of Plovdiv gathered the elite of clean technologies at Cleantech Vision 2026

Plovdiv – „Science and industry are not two parallel worlds, but two sides of the same effort for a more sustainable future.“ With this message, Prof. Dr. B. Ivanova, Rector of the Agricultural University of Plovdiv, opened the international conference Cleantech Vision 2026, which was held on June 18, 2026.

The event, dedicated to knowledge transfer, turned Plovdiv into a crossroads for academia, business, and international partners. The main driver of the forum is the Center for Clean Technologies and Efficient Use of Biomass (CCBRE) and Prof. Mandaliev, who serves as the Center's Director, with the project being co-financed by the European Union.

„The true value of a scientific discovery is measured not only by the publications that describe it, but by its real journey into practice“, stated emphatically Prof. Ivanova. The goal of the center (CCBRE) is precisely to directly transfer the created knowledge and skills to the business sector.

Strong International Presence and Swiss Expertise

The conference was distinguished by significant international participation, with special attention given to Swiss expertise in environmental technologies. The Ambassador of Switzerland to Bulgaria, H.E. Pierre Hagmann, highlighted the active development of partnerships with Swiss participants in the field of clean technologies, from both the private and public sectors.

Foreign experts also joined the discussion, such as Dr. Hans Musch (Executive Director of the Swiss company Renergia AG), who emphasized the need for clearly defining roles to achieve concrete results, and Dr. Karina Anguelieva from the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC, Kazakhstan), who urged participants not to abandon their goals and to boldly embrace change.

Building a Functional System Between Business and Science

For real technology transfer to occur, a strong connection with investors is necessary. According to Anton Todorov, Chairman of the Executive Board of the National Innovation Fund, the strategic role of such initiatives is to reduce the risk along the path from fundamental science to real investors.

In this context, Eng. Plamen Panchev, Executive Director of „Trakia Economic Zone“, noted that the Agricultural University already provides an excellent foundation. According to him, this foundation allows for the rapid realization of real innovation projects within an already „functioning system between business and science“.

The final panel of the conference, organized jointly with partners from BASE, provided an opportunity for entrepreneurs and innovators to present real solutions for a cleaner and more sustainable business. The topic continued into the second day as part of the International Summer School, organized by Dr. Eng. Rosen Kosturkov. The program involved doctoral students and young researchers from the Agricultural University – Plovdiv, the Technical University – Plovdiv, the University of Food Technologies, and the International Science and Technology Center in Kazakhstan.

A Symbol of Growth

The Cleantech Vision 2026 conference concluded with a symbolic act – planting a tree in the university courtyard. A special plaque notes that it was planted by the CCBRE team as a living „symbol of sustainable development, innovation, and the connection between science, business, and nature“.

The forum proved that when scientific potential and entrepreneurial spirit work together, the transition to a cleaner and more efficient economy is not just a vision for the future, but a reality being built today.