Meet Ekaterina Zakhareva, the first ever EU Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation

Bulgarian Ekaterina Zakhareva has been elected as the first-ever EU Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation for the next five years (2024-2029).

This information was provided by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, elected for a second term.

Zakhareva, a member of Bulgaria’s GERB party, is a seasoned politician who served as deputy prime minister for judicial reform and foreign affairs from 2017 to 2021, and as justice minister from 2015 to 2017.

He is currently a member of the Bulgarian Parliament.

“We need to put research and innovation, science and technology at the heart of our economy. It will help us ensure that we invest more and focus our spending on strategic priorities and breakthrough innovations,” von der Leyen said.

The Mission of Yekaterina Zakhareva

Zaharieva’s primary mission is to create better conditions for researchers and innovators, and to focus on basic research and breakthrough innovation.

In addition, he is responsible for the expansion of the European Innovation Council and the European Research Council.

To promote the free movement of researchers and technologies, Zaharieva must propose a law on the European Research Area. This law aims to reduce the fragmentation of research and integrate innovation and research within the single market.

Von der Leyen tasked Zaharieva with prioritising the promotion of knowledge and innovation by implementing a long-term strategy to strengthen Europe’s research infrastructure.

In terms of competitiveness, Zaharieva needs to improve the regulatory framework through the European Innovation Act. This act aims to facilitate access to venture capital for European innovative startups and support them in testing new solutions and technologies.

Zaharieva was also entrusted with developing an EU strategy for startups and scale-ups to improve framework conditions for startups and scale-ups.

Ekaterina Zakhareva’s task is to create a network of Trusted Investors that will bring together investors in advanced technologies from all over Europe.

It will also prepare a new, multidisciplinary strategy for European life sciences and focus on developing an Advanced Materials Act.

In addition, Zakhareva will propose a strategy to increase the use of artificial intelligence by European scientists and work to strengthen research security.

Ekaterina Zakharyeva will also lead activities aimed at strengthening international cooperation in research and innovation and contribute to the further development of the New European Bauhaus, with a special focus on innovation and bio-based materials.