GAINING PUBLICITY FOR A SCIENTIFIC PROJECT: IMPORTANCE AND PUBLIC RECOGNITION

Abstract

The paper presents an approach for gaining publicity for a scientific project and public recognition of the achieved results. The object of the paper is a research project, namely “Conceptual Model for Introducing Innovation and Increasing the Competitiveness of Industrial Enterprises”, financed by the Bulgarian National Science Fund (BNSF) under a competition for financial support for projects of junior researchers and postdocs. The project team consists of researchers from three scientific fields - 3.8. Economics, 3.3. Political Sciences, and 4.6. Informatics and Computer Science. Thus, the research team is designed to cover the different aspects of the examined scientific problem: on one hand, the socio-political environment in which the economic subjects operate and, accordingly, the opportunities they provide; on the other hand, the SMEs themselves and their innovation activity, and thirdly the possibility of applying ICT to innovation activity. The universality under consideration allows for the combination of scientific expertise and the achievement of high results both in the field of scientific knowledge and in the practice. The focus of this research is the utilization of the principles and instruments with a view to establish the scientific results and the opportunities to find better public recognition. The aim of the authors is to present good practices and efforts for marketing communication (especially PR) activities and thus increase the motivation of young people and researchers to elaborate projects, participate in teamwork and public recognition of their actions. This corresponds to the strategies elaborated on National and European level to strengthen the relation of the so called “triangle of knowledge” - science-business-education. Furthermore, the interdisciplinary of the current project team is a precondition for more opportunities for public relations that is in accordance with the main purposes laid in the Innovation Strategy for Intelligent Specialization of the Republic of Bulgaria 2014-2020 (ISIS). The paper introduces the importance of the current scientific project and compliance with the European, national and regional research priorities. The results gathered by the statements of connected parties (i.e. professors, students, young researchers, representatives of the National science fund of Bulgaria, etc.) indicate that the teamwork and efforts are highly appreciated. Thus, the paper presents the modern methods for validation of scientific achievements, recognition by stakeholders, and high assessment of teamwork, which is a prerequisite for developing a model for public recognition of scientific projects.