Internationalisation in the Service of Science: A New Bridge Between Plovdiv and Shandong Province

One of the core goals of the Academy for Sustainable Innovation and Scientific Research Foundation is to support the internationalisation of Bulgarian science — building bridges between Bulgarian researchers and leading scientific partners around the world. It is in this spirit that the Foundation actively engaged in international cooperation with China's Shandong Province.

In May 2026, the Foundation took part in the Annual Meeting of the China-CEEC Modern Agricultural Science and Education Innovation Alliance, hosted by Shandong Agricultural University (SDAU) in Shandong Province, China. During the visit, a decision was taken to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Foundation and SDAU and to launch joint research and innovation projects. The Foundation was represented by Prof. Dr Petar Mandaliev, who also delivered an invited lecture at the university.

For the Foundation, this new bridge exemplifies the vision it champions — the Plovdiv region as a recognised hub for cleantech and sustainable innovation with a global perspective. Partnerships of this kind open opportunities for joint research, knowledge exchange and access to new sources of funding, with benefits reaching both science and the real economy.

The Foundation will continue to support initiatives of this nature — by encouraging international exchange, continuing education and knowledge transfer that turn scientific partnerships into tangible results for society and the economy in Bulgaria.