"One of the key problems that the European Research Council and the scientific communities are facing is overcoming the fragmentation of research activities, programmes and policies across Europe. Being one of the convergence regions Bulgaria as a new member state needs considerable efforts and support to reach and sustain a competitive edge in knowledge and innovation. The research staff at Institute of Polymers who have been benchmarking with their colleagues from the most developed countries for years do have the capacities to make a worthy contribution to ERA. Therefore the Institute undertakes this project for evaluating its research potential and successive developing of an Action Plan. The project is relevant to the call “Providing evaluation facilities for research organization in the EU´s convergence regions and outermost regions” and is in congruence with the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) 2007-2013. The goals of the project are to produce an objective-driven SWOT analysis made by independent EU experts and drawing up of an Action Plan. The Action Plan will outline a framework of policies and measures with a view to intensify the process of strengthening the capacities of the Institute and contributing to the realization of the full research potential of the enlarged European Union. The set actions for immediate implementation of an integrated and responsible strategy will facilitate the successful participation of the Institute in the research activities at EU level. The expected outcome from the project implementation is turning IP-BAS into a center having a better performing research organization, knowledge generation, innovation of research management and communication patterns. The resulting knowledge will be applied in the benefit of society, namely doing research directed to safe and profitable products. Boosting our regional cooperation we anticipate to help the integration of Balkan Countries into the European Research Area."