Bulgaria's scientific research institutes lacked funds to develop their capacity, Education Minister Daniel Vulchev said.

In Bulgaria 0.5 per cent of the GDP was allocated to research, while the EU average was 1.8 per cent, said Vulchev as quoted by Focus news agency. In the US the figure is 2.5 per cent while in Japan it exceeds four per cent.

Vulchev told Bulgarian National Television that a scientific research strategy was needed to determine which areas should be developed.

For the first time Bulgaria is to take part in a scientific research framework programme as a full-fledged EU member state.

The programme started in the beginning of 2007, said Vulchev. It will last seven years and the budget totals 54 billion euro.