The overall objective of PlantaSYST is to establish a Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB) in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. I will be a joint initiative of four Bulgarian research institutes located in Plovdiv (Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute, the Stefan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Laboratory of Metabolomics and Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology) and two institutes located in Potsdam, Germany (Potsdam University and Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology).

The ambition of the project is to establish a CPSBB to stand at the forefront of plant sciences in Bulgaria and Eastern Europe by integrating molecular biology, functional genomics, metabolomics, bioinformatics, bioprocessing, and long-standing expertise in practical plant genetics and breeding, to unravel the plant biology and translating the scientific knowledge into new horticultural and industrial applications. Thus, the newly established CPSBB will fill in the scientific and technological gaps identified in the Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) of Bulgaria. Besides that, the CPSBB will take a leading role in educating next-generation early-stage researchers (ESR) in the fields of molecular breeding, plant systems biology and biotechnology.

Specific activities of the partners in the project:

• Fundamental research
• Applied research and transfer of research outcomes to the industry
• Education and training
• Conservation activities
• Public services (consultations to ministries, services to end users)

The IMBB is responsible for dissemination of the advancement of the project and education and training foreseen in the project agenda and Work Packages.