International Conference “Security and Defence
R&D Management: Policy, Concepts and Models”
Capt. (Navy) Boyan Mednikarov, Ass. Prof., DSc
Factors determining the dynamically changing security
environment in the Black Sea Region
the increased number of state players that exercise
sovereign rights on the maritime spaces in the region;
the heightened dynamics of economic exploitation of the
maritime spaces, and particularly the continental shelf;
the presence of a significant and tending to increase military
and economic imbalance among the states in the region;
the markedly enhanced interest in the region by
international organizations and certain states, related to the
expansion of NATO and EU in Eastern Europe;
the conceptual changes in the ideas on ensuring the
security in the maritime spaces of the region.
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BULGARIA AND PROBLEMS OF THE BLACK SEA
REGION SECURITY
On the basis of its geopolitical location, Bulgaria
logically came into the focus of these changes.
As a member state of NATO, Bulgaria has
unequivocally taken its stance regarding the global
challenges for peace and security both in the world
and in the region.
The allied responsibilities assumed thereof are
combined with the commitments of our country
pursuant to our membership in the EU and are
related more specifically to Bulgaria’s role of
southeastern border of the Union.
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Problems of the functioning of the maritime
security system of Bulgaria
The optimisation of the system has started, mainly consisting in
replacing the centralised model of control in NMS with a system of
network type;
The institution-centred approach is firmly setting in. The following can be
observed:
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duplicating structures and disintegration of efforts;
lack of coordination in the course of carrying out control and especially in
rendering critical services;
absence of uniform management procedures;
lack of common understanding for the problems on the part of the
management personnel;
absence of unified requirements to the preparation of the forces, the
equipment and the support provided to them.
the different institutions work on their own and without coordination or
co-operate episodically.
practice has shown that they fail to be a reliable tool for the protection of
maritime sovereignty because the needed transparency among them is
absent, and even competition can be observed at times.
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Conclusions for the development of the maritime
security system of Bulgaria
The entire spectrum of tendencies pointed out extends the
list of challenges for the maritime security system and
reveals a serious gap in the theory and practice related to
the protection of national and allied interests in the Black
Sea Region.
The lack of sufficiently systematised knowledge on the
problem predetermines the inadequate conceptual support
to the protection of the interest of the Republic of Bulgaria
related to NMS.
to establish an effective and efficient maritime security
system and for it to function in this manner is only possible
on the basis of an all-in scientific support of the realisation
of the different aspects of the maritime policy of the state.
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The maritime policy of the state – as the object of the
scientific support
The maritime policy determines the goals, the tasks, the
areas of focus, and the methods of realising its interests in
NMS and on the high seas.
From the point of view of the scientific support the following
principles of realising the maritime policy are a matter of
interest:
applying an integrated approach to the management of
maritime affairs;
keeping all the components of the sea power at a high level;
unifying the efforts and coordinating the academic research
on the issues regarding the formulation and the realisation
of the national maritime policy;
conducting comprehensive maritime academic research;
developing the systems of monitoring the marine
environment and the littoral areas, etc.
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PROBLEMS OF THE METHODOLOGY OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN
SUPPORT OF THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE SYSTEM OF
NATIONAL SECURITY
Military reform cannot be successful if it does not rely on science and if
there is no understanding and willingness to utilise its achievements.
On the other hand, the content and the end results of the reform are
largely dependent on the degree of development of military science .
as far as the modernisation of the armed forces is chiefly associated
with the implementation of new technologies, the discussions on the
development of the system for military science research are often
brought down to the development of armament and military equipment
only.
This is a one-sided position, typical primarily for the specialists from the
field of the military technical areas of focus.
It results in developments that cover technical and technological
problems only, unrelated to the all-in scientific support to defence. By
nature these are sufficiently obsolete and are not in accordance with the
present-day state of affairs and the existing global trends.
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The present-day issues facing the national security
system require the application of a radically
different approach.
It is necessary to create and develop a national
system for scientific research in the field of
security, enabling the specialists to conduct all-in
scientific research
This system has to be directly related to the current
and the perspective needs of the national security
system and covering all the areas that are
immediately related to enhancing its capabilities.
The realisation of the described all-in approach to
organising R&D for the benefit of national security
requires paying special attention to Vaptsarov Naval
Academy as a specific educational and research
institution.
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DIRECTIONS FOR SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT TO THE REALISATION OF
THE NATIONAL MARITIME POLICY AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF
ITS MARITIME SECURITY SYSTEM
Conceptual support to the transformation of the
system and the formation of a new security policy
in the Black Sea region;
Studying the current needs of the nation’s Navy,
maritime transport and marine industry;
Developing projects for the scientific support of the
Bulgarian Navy to achieve their technical
compatibility and interoperability with the NATO
partners;
Conducting scientific and applied science research
to the interest of defence and the prompt
implementation of their results in the activities, the
modernisation of the armed forces (the Navy) and
the achievement of the required operational
capabilities;
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DIRECTIONS FOR SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT TO THE REALISATION OF
THE NATIONAL MARITIME POLICY AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF
ITS MARITIME SECURITY SYSTEM
Conducting research, developing projects and technologies in
priority areas defined by NATO for Bulgaria (projects related
to: the protection of ports and naval bases from terrorist
threats; new technology for surface and submarine
reconnaissance, surveillance and detection, mine surveillance
and mine countermeasures in shallow water, ports, etc.)
Developing technological solutions in support of the
decommissioning and utilisation of surplus armament and
equipment.
Participating in international projects related to NATO and the
EU, integrating in their system of defence research and
maintaining close co-operation with leading countries and
companies within particular spheres of naval equipment and
marine technology;
Developing and optimally utulising the scientific and
production potential of Bulgaria in the realisation of projects
to the interests of the MoD and the Bulgarian Armed Forces,
and transfer of civil developments for the needs of defence;
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DIRECTIONS FOR SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT TO THE REALISATION OF
THE NATIONAL MARITIME POLICY AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF
ITS MARITIME SECURITY SYSTEM
Realisation of scientific programmes
contributing for the competitiveness of the
defence industry and providing project and
technology for utilizing new market niches;
Realisation of projects on developing a
state-of-the-art infrastructure for research,
education, and qualification at the Academy;
Organising experimental, prototypical and
small-scale batch production of new
samples of military and marine equipment.
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Strategy for Research and Development
of the Naval Academy
It is formed and formulated on the basis of the
institution mission and strategic goal developing the Naval Academy as a centre
of fundamental scientific and applied
science research in the sphere of naval
sciences and marine technology, as well as
its establishment as a scientific research
and engineering implementation unit for the
Navy, water transport and marine industry.
Its aim is to stimulate the continuous
renovation of the scientific potential, the
development of a state-of-the-art research
infrastructure, and achieving diversification in
the sources of funding for scientific research.
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Goals of the R&D strategy of the Naval Academy
The formation of a long-term scientific
policy of the Academy as a component of
and in harmony with the national scientific
policy;
The stimulation of internal and external
integration through active participation in
NATO and EU programmes amd intensive
regional co-operation;
The development of new, rational
mechanisms for effective funding fir
scientific research.
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Relation between the R&D strategy of the Naval
Academy and the Bulgarian national strategy for
scientific research
The main goal is the allocation of resources for
conducting scientific research towards solving
essential needs of the society and the economy of
the country, enhancing their productivity and
developing human potential.
The most efficient indicators for the effectiveness of
scientific research are the use of scientific
knowledge on the international market of products,
technology and services and the publication of their
results and evaluations n an international level.
NSSR has to contribute to the integration of Bulgaria
towards the developed European countries
The legal basis to develop NSSR is the Scientific
Research Promotion Act (2003).
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The principles of the R&D strategy
of the Naval Academy
Introducing R&D priorities in the area of
scientific competence of the Academy,
corresponding to the policy and the priority
of the MoD, NATO, and the marine industry
of the Republic of Bulgaria;
Integrating the process of education and the
research activities in a singe training and
research process;
R&D integration with other institutes and
implementation units and coordination of
the scientific policy of the Academy with the
consumer sector;
Active international co-operation.
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Main areas of focus of R&D
at the Naval Academy
maritime education and qualification
activities;
maritime safety and security;
naval armament and equipment;
navigation;
marine technology.
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Programme structure of R&D
at the Naval academy
1. Perspective research – conducting theoretical
informational and analytical studies, elaborating
concepts and prognoses, reviews and analyses in the
area of naval armament and equipment, maritime
sciences and technology.
2. Applied research – conducting research and studies
assisting the development of the armament system in
the Bulgarian Armed Forces (the Navy), the safety and
security of shipping, the effectiveness and the
reliability of maritime equipment.
3. Demonstrations of new technologies and perspective
concepts for modernizing the armaments and
maritime equipment and for realising the force goals
of the Bulgarian Navy – participation with scientific
projects in exhibition on a national and international
level.
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4. Developing the Academy’s infrastructure for
scientific research and testing new samples of
armament and maritime technology and for
training and qualification activities
Involves continuing the development of the
simulation facilities and establishing water
facilities witг polygons for:
testing of samples of armament and maritime
equipment;
certification training and qualification in maritime
safety and security;
laboratory with a polygon for submarine
technologies;
authorised laboratory for full-scale certification
trials for the seagoing, manoeuvrability, and
seaworthiness characteristics of vessels.
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5. Organisational scientific acitivities
Involves participation at national and international scientific forums, organising and
conducting scientific events in the country and participation in the establishment
of scientific associations and organisations.
The Naval Academy has entered into framework agreements for co-operation and
joint activities with:
The Institute of Hydro and Aerodynamics at the Bulgarian Academy of
Sciences – the activities are directed within the area of naval shipbuilding, high
precision underwater weapons, modernisation of naval armament and
equipment, etc., as well as on establishing a joint laboratory for certification trials
of foreign ships;
The institute of Oceanology at BAS – activities related to the implementation
of applied science achievements in the area of oceanology and physical fields in
projects on modernisation and conversion, joint search and rescue and
submarine technology operations by means of divers and submarine methods
and equipment.
The Academy continues its participation in the activities of:
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The Highly Technological Business Incubator – Varna, with the provided opportunity
for utilisation of the scientific production and technological potential of the city of
Varna;
The National Oceanographic Commission at the Intergovernmental Oceanographic
Commission e of UNESCO, for participation in projects related to marine sciences and
technology, funded by the UN.
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6. Scientific and informational support to R&D
Involves :
publishing collections of studies, thematic and
jubilee editions;
patent activities;
providing scientific and specialised literature,
periodicals and other informational carriers and
materials.
A Scientific and Informational Module has been built
at the Library Centre of the Academy to provide
direct connection to electronic libraries and data
bases in the country and abroad.
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7. International scientific and technical cooperation
Involves participation of the academic staff in NATO
workgroups and conducting joint activities and participation
in research programmes within NATO and the European
research programme with:
The Naval Academy (ECOLE NAVALE) of France and its
Research Institute;
The higher national school for armament engineers ENSIETA, France;
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of
UNESCO– to participate in projects on maritime sciences
and technologies funded by the UN;
The scientific research institute at the University of Lisbon Portugal.
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CONCLUSION
• The Bulgarian Naval Academy is an important
component of the national system for scientific research
in the sphere of security and a holder of key
competences in R&D for the scientific support to the
realisation of the maritime policy of the country
• The successful completion of this complex and largescale task of nation-wide significance requires a clear
vision, excellent organisation and active involvement.
• The realisation of the R&D Strategy of N. Y. Vaptsarov
Naval Academy in the analysed aspect will enable its
establishment as a centre of naval sciences and marine
technology.
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