Assoc. Prof. Dr. Georgi Nikolov is a researcher in the field of regional development and regional management. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics and a Master's degree in Public Administration. He has 15 years of teaching experience and works in the disciplines of Sustainable Development of Regions, Innovative Development of Territories, Decentralization and Local Self-Government, Competitiveness of Regions, Regional Economic Growth, Development of Smart Cities. For the last seven years, he has been the Head of the Department of Regional Development and is currently Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Management and Administration. He is also currently the Director of the Institute for Postgraduate Qualification at the University of National and World Economy. His public engagement is associated with two terms as a member of the Regional Policy Council at the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, a member of the Regional Council for Development of the South-West Region. An independent expert-evaluator of innovative projects at the Ministry of Innovation and Development, as well as an expert on regional and local development at the Association of Bulgarian Cities and Regions. He has participated in over 15 university, national and international projects, including as a project manager.