Introducing the mentors

Marin Pandev

Marin Pandev is the director of the Joint Innovation Center of the BAS (JIC-BAS). He is part of the Enterprise Europe Network team, the largest network supporting business and science. Marin specializes in advising scientific organizations and companies on issues related to European funding, entering new international markets and finding suitable business and project partners. Marin is the national contact person for the EU Framework Program for Research and Innovation Horizon Europe in two areas – the European Innovation Council and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. He has extensive experience in managing projects with external financing in all phases of project activity – application, budgeting. implementation and reporting. He has a master’s degree in “Business Administration” and a bachelor’s degree in “International Finance and Trade”. He completed a number of specializations in Bulgaria and abroad. He is fluent in English and French.

Daniela Levi, Ph.D.

Daniela Levi, PhD is a “Technology Transfer” expert at the Joint Innovation Center of the BAS. She is a consultant with specific experience in the planning, management and implementation of projects financed under the FP “Horizon Europe” of the EU, “Horizon 2020”, Erasmus +, 7 FP of the EU, “INTERREG Balkan-Mediterranean 2014-2020”, ENI CBC MED Program 2014-2020, “South East Europe 2007-2013”, Operational programs under the Structural Funds, etc. Member of the Enterprise Europe Network team at JIC-BAS, the largest network in support of business and science, with many years of experience in advising scientific organizations and companies in the field of technology transfer, commercialization and internationalization, as well as access to funding. Daniela is the national contact person for RP “Horizon Europe” for cluster 5 “Climate, energy and mobility”. She completed her master’s thesis “Construction and development of infrastructures for technological transfer” as a director of the Technological Transfer Office PROINO. Dr. Daniela Levi has a PhD in electrochemistry and a master’s degree in “Industrial Management”, she completed a number of specializations in Bulgaria, the USA, Italy, etc. She is fluent in English and Hebrew.

Theodora Sotirova

Theodora Sotirova is an expert with many years of experience in consulting innovative enterprises and working with start-up companies. She has specific expertise in developing innovative business models, preparing and attracting funding for research and innovation projects. Theodora has experience in working on European framework programmes – Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, including EIC Accelerator and Erasmus+ program.

Milena Stoeva

Milena Stoeva has been an expert in “Commercialization” at JIC – BAS since October 2023. Milena has many years of experience in promoting and assisting SMEs in the realization of goods and services, internationalization of their activities and increasing their awareness of regulations in Europe regarding business. Milena specializes in advising companies on issues related to entering new international markets and finding suitable business and project partners. Her interests are focused on business development and effective event management. She was involved in the preparation, organization and holding of seminars, training, business missions and international bilateral business meetings between companies in different sectors, in Bulgaria and abroad. She has experience in event management in the fields of information technology and human resources.

eng. Deyan Doykov

Deyan Doikov is a member of the JIC team. Lecturer and teacher in Bulgarian and foreign educational institutions. Author of educational literature and articles. Participant in the launch and management of four entrepreneurial companies. Worked in the administration of activities in the field of science and technology. He was a member of the National Business Incubation Association of the USA and the author and implementer of a project for a business incubator within the building of the Center for Transportation Cybernetics. Participant and coordinator of projects in the field of education. Co-head of the multimedia laboratory at TU Sofia. He has implemented an experimental introduction of flexible learning and design thinking in school.

Radostina Halacheva

Radostina Halacheva is an “Intellectual Property” expert from the JIC team. With more than 17 years of experience in the protection of industrial property, 10 of which are directly related to the BAS and assisting scientific teams in the preparation of patent documentation and the management of their intellectual property. Her lectures are specially designed to answer the questions of scientists in the field of intellectual property rights.

Milena Koleva

Milena Koleva is an expert strategy and development at the Cluster Sofia knowledge city. She is an experienced management consultant and trainer with international experience in innovation management. Milena holds an MBA degree from HULT International Business School, Boston, US and is currently a PhD candidate with research focus on innovative technologies in education. Milena has worked with large corporations of Fortune 500, start-ups, and SMEs. As a leader of the Innovation management academy in Bulgaria she has developed new methodologies, trainings and materials for managers, students, and other trainees. She is also an experienced project manager coordinating, managing and preparing EU funded projects.

If you wish to join our team of mentors, contact us.