One of the priorities of the New European Innovation Agenda is training young talent. The plan is to train one million of them in deep tech within 3 years, working in every country and every region of the EU, said EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, in a video address to participants at the opening of the Deep Technology Innovation Port at the University of Economics in Varna.
Among the guests were Innovation Minister Alexander Pulev, Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov, Varna Regional Governor Mario Smurkov, Varna Mayor Ivan Portnih, rectors of universities from the seaside city, representatives of business, industry organizations.
The new European programme focuses on deep innovations - those that seek to answer the biggest challenges we face as a society, Gabriel pointed out. According to her, the chosen focus areas for the Port of Varna are fully aligned with European priorities - logistics, transport, creative and cultural centres.
The main goal is to make Europe a leader of the fourth wave of innovation, the Commissioner said. The digital revolution, which was the third wave, is reaching its peak, she said. Europe must now be ready for the deep tech wave, which is focused on challenges where digital start-ups have not yet had a role - in sectors such as transport, agriculture, construction, industry, Gabriel said.
She recalled that the New European agenda covers 5 initiatives. Among them is the development of experimental living labs to create the right conditions for deep technologies, with the aim of reaching 100.
Gabriel also said that a summit will be held in Munich on November 23, where the Port of Varna will join 7 other deep tech valleys from Europe to form the Start for Future alliance.