Cooperation with EU (EDA)

The EUROPEAN DEFENSE AGENCY (EDA) was established in 2004 as an intergovernmental organization subordinate to the European Council. It is made up of 27 countries (all EU Member States except Denmark). The Agency's main mission is to support the European Council in its efforts to improve Europe's defense and crisis response capabilities. The Agency is a key player in developing the capabilities required to support the Union's Common Security and Defense Policy.

The European Defence Agency, within the overall mission set out in the  Council decision, has three main missions:

  • supporting the development of defence capabilities and military cooperation among the European Union Member States;
  • stimulating defence Research and Technology (R&T) and strengthening the European defence industry;
  • acting as a military interface to EU policies.

EDA acts as a catalyst, promotes collaborations, launches new initiatives and introduces solutions to improve defence capabilities. It is the place where Member States willing to develop capabilities in cooperation do so. It is also a key facilitator in developing the capabilities necessary to underpin the Common Security and Defence Policy of the Union.

Through various networks of national experts the Agency currently involves around 4,000 defence specialists. These networks of experts are crucial for EDA’s work as they ensure coherence with national priorities. National experts are organised in Integrated Development Teams (IDTs), Project Teams (PTs) as well as CapTechs in the research & technology domain. Additionally, Adhoc Working Groups comprised of national experts can be formed for any given subject.

DA organises its R&T priorities in different Capability Technology Areas (CapTechs), which are networking fora for experts from government, industry, small and medium enterprises (SME) and academia, moderated by EDA.

The cooperation with the European Defense Agency dates back to 2011.

Representative to the EDA Steering Board in the format of National Research and Technology Directors in Deputy Director of the Defense Institute – COL. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikolai Stoianov (desk: + 359 292 21 801; факс: 359 292 21 808; E-mail: n.stoianovatdi.mod.bg)

Contact point for the National Director for Research and Technology in EDA is LTC Assoc. Prof. Dr. Iliyan Hutov (desk: + 359 292 21 864; факс: 359 292 21 808; E-mail: i.hutovatdi.mod.bg).

Representatives of the academic staff participate as national representatives in the EDA expert groups, as well as in various initiatives of the organization.

The Institute organizes and coordinates the participation and activities of our national representatives in the following EDA Capability Technology Areas:

  • CapTech Communication Information Systems&Networks – COL. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikolai Stoianov (desk: + 359 292 21 801; факс: 359 292 21 808; E-mail: n.stoianovatdi.mod.bg)
  • AHWG Cyber Defence – COL. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikolai Stoianov (desk: + 359 292 21 801; факс: 359 292 21 808; E-mail: n.stoianovatdi.mod.bg)
  • CapTech Systems of systems, Battlelab and Modelling&Simulation – COL. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivan Ivanov (desk: + 359 292 21 822; факс: 359 292 21 808; E-mail: n.stoianovatdi.mod.bg)
  • CapTech Ammunition Technology – COL Assoc. Prof. D.Sc. Borislav Genov (desk: + 359 292 21 850; факс: 359 292 21 808; E-mail: n.stoianovatdi.mod.bg (b.)genovn.stoianovatdi.mod.bg (@di.mod.bg))
  • CapTech Ground Systems – LTC Assoc. Prof. Dr. Iliyan Hutov (desk: + 359 292 21 864; факс: 359 292 21 808; E-mail: i.hutovatdi.mod.bg).
  • CapTech Aerial Systems – COL (Ret.) Dr. Atanas Ganchev (desk: + 359 292 21 855; факс: 359 292 21 808; E-mail: i.hutovatdi.mod.bg (a.)ganchevi.hutovatdi.mod.bg (@di.mod.bg)).
  • CapTech Radio-Frequency Sensors Technologies – COL. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivan Ivanov (desk: + 359 292 21 822; факс: 359 292 21 808; E-mail: n.stoianovatdi.mod.bg)
  • CapTech CBRN Protection and Human Factors – LTC Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hristo Petrov Hristov (desk: + 359 292 21 861; факс: 359 292 21 808; E-mail: i.hutovatdi.mod.bg (h.h)ristovi.hutovatdi.mod.bg (@di.mod.bg)).
  • CapTech Technologies for Components and Modules – LTC Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hristo Petrov Hristov (desk: + 359 292 21 861; факс: 359 292 21 808; E-mail: h.hristovatdi.mod.bg).
  • CapTech Electro-Optical Sensors Technologies – COL Assoc. Prof. D.Sc. Borislav Genov (desk: + 359 292 21 850; факс: 359 292 21 808; E-mail: n.stoianovatdi.mod.bg (b.)genovn.stoianovatdi.mod.bg (@di.mod.bg))
  • CapTech Materials and Structures – Prof. D.Sc. Hristo Ivanov Hristov (desk: + 359 292 21 851; факс: 359 292 21 808; E-mail: h.i.hristovatdi.mod.bg)
  • CapTech Guidance, Navigation and Control – COL. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivan Ivanov (desk: + 359 292 21 822; факс: 359 292 21 808; E-mail: n.stoianovatdi.mod.bg)