Lecture by Honorary Ambassador Mr. Philippe Beke: Leadership in environmental responsibility, social engagement and efficient governance as EU marker in global affairs

.On 17.01.2025 H.E. Mr. Philippe Beke – Honorary Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Bulgaria, gave a lecture at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences on the topic: “Leadership in environmental responsibility, social engagement and efficient governance as EU marker in global affairs”. The event was organized by the Centre for National Security and Defence Research at BAS (CNSDR-BAS) and is part of the Annual Conference of the Centre.

 

 The Director of CNSDR – Mr. Kamen Iliev opened the event and gave the floor to the Vice-President of BAS – Corr. Memb. Prof. Stefan Hadjitodorov for a welcome address on behalf of the Management Board of the Academy. Experts and representatives of academia, state administration and public organizations attended the lecture. A special guest at the event was H.М. King Simeon II, a long-time champion of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

 As an introduction to the lecture of H.E. Mr. Philippe Beke, Corr. Memb. prof. Aleksandar Kostov – member of the Governing Council of BAS, made a brief overview of the history of Bulgarian-Belgian cooperation in the last 20 years. Mr. Kamen Iliev presented the activities of CNSDR implemented by “Risk Space Transfer” – Technology Transfer Office within 3 key projects funded under the EU research and innovation framework programme “Horizon Europe” – Regions4Climate, VALORADA and the recently started Med-IREN project.  The projects are related to the use of space technologies for climate adaptation, addressing the adverse effects of climate change and ensuring climate-resilient critical infrastructure.

 

In 2024, CNSDR and the Bulgarian Defence Institute “Prof. Tsvetan Lazarov” jointly organized under the auspices of the Belgian Ambassador to Sofia H.E. Mr. Frédéric Meurice – HEMUS 2024: Research and Innovation Week for Security, Defence and Space (6th-8th June, 2024).  The Research and Innovation Week was included in the programme of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU and marked the 155th anniversary of BAS and the 15th anniversary of the Bulgarian Defence Institute.