The Commissioner-designate for Start-ups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, also had to answer questions from MEPs on Tuesday. The former Bulgarian Foreign Minister is to be responsible for areas that play an important role in Europe’s future capacity for innovation. Accordingly, she wants to place research and development at the „heart of the competitiveness agenda“, said the lawyer. The hearing was organized by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). The Committee on Education and Culture (CULT) was also invited.