"Development of Expert Forensic Examinations and Activities at the Research Institute of Forensic Sciences at the Ministry of Interior (RIFS) and technical upgrade and expansion of the possibilities of five basic regional forensic laboratories"

About this project

<p>The overall goal of the project is to strengthen the forensic capacity of Bulgaria for precise and overall evaluation of evidence collected for criminal and civil cases. The project will improve the forensic infrastructure in Bulgaria which is a requirement for all European countries on the way to the common objectives stated in the strategy “European Forensic Science Area 2020”. The project will strengthen the capacity for forensic examination of drug substances, for examination of latent fingerprints, id documents, biological traces and digital material evidence, and for establishing &nbsp;the authenticity of identity documents of illegally residing or detained illegal emigrants, to increase the capacity and the quality of collecting and examining evidence in relation to computer and computer-related crimes and to create specialised working stations for analysing information carriers, network devices and communication devices.<br> The project includes, <em>inter alia</em>, the following main activities:</p> <ul> <li>Technical equipment for five regional forensic laboratories;</li> <li>Specialized training courses for experts in different fields of forensic science;</li> <li>Organising a conference in Bulgaria with experts from Norway and Bulgaria on the topic of “Presentation of the results of the work with the new equipment, benefits from the acquired knowledge and abilities in solving specific expert tasks”;</li> <li>Writing and publishing “A Handbook on Forensic Science”.</li> </ul>

Bilateral cooperation results

The project has facilitated direct exchanges between Bulgarian and Norwegian forensic professionals, enabling discussions, joint training, and knowledge-sharing in areas such as gunshot residue examination, forensic quality assurance, 3D scanning, drug analysis, handwriting investigation, and document examination. This collaboration has not only improved forensic standards but has also reinforced the operational effectiveness of both institutions. The experience gained from this period of cooperation highlights the potential for continued partnership and further knowledge sharing between Norway and Bulgaria. The modernization of forensic capabilities, combined with strengthened professional networks, lays the foundation for future initiatives aimed at improving crime investigation and law enforcement effectiveness on a wider European scale.

Project partners

• National Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS) of Norway Donor project partner· Norway