site.btaSpinoff Bulgaria Conference Begins in Sofia

The second edition of the Spinoff Bulgaria international conference started in Sofia on Thursday. The initiative's goal is to create a sustainable spin-off ecosystem and culture. The forum aims to enable companies to expand their network as well as connect with key international partners. The conference has content that encourages companies to enter into closer collaboration with universities and existing scientific infrastructure.

Thursday's event is dedicated to Artificial Intelligence, IT and Communications, Investment, and Friday's programme will be dedicated to Horizon Europe, with the new Bulgarian EU Commissioner Iliana Ivanova taking part.

Opening the event, Kristina Eskenazi, one of the founders of Spinoff Bulgaria, said that the goal is to create and implement a sustainable spin-off ecosystem and culture that will create 100 new tech startups in Bulgaria by 2030.

According to Kaloyan Rachev, owner of Vangavis, founder and board member of the Bulgarian Fintech Association, there is a need to involve scientists, universities, government, developers, and media to create a spinoff ecosystem.

Boyan Zhekov, а Bulgarian national coordinator of Horizon Europe, said that the forum is very important because it has been reported that only 10% of businesses have been interested in Horizon Europe since the beginning of 2023, and this is not good for Bulgaria.

Attending the event and speaking on behalf of his Ministry, Deputy Innovations and Growth Minister Georgi Angelov said: "We expect to launch a technology transfer fund and office next year. In addition, we have several initiatives that support innovative enterprises - local competitiveness funds. We will be launching application opportunities for innovation and innovation development with a large budget. The budget for innovation is some BGN 200 million for the whole period, and for development it is BGN 127 million".

Angelov recalled that currently the Innovations and Growth Ministry has a green economy program that is open until October 3. The Ministry also has initiatives, which are supported by funding, for the development of industrial zones supporting the sustainability of already developed centres of excellence and competence.