The first meeting “Where Digitalization Meets Investment” of the Bulgarian Digital Information Centers was held in Stara Zagora on 5 March 2025. Dobri Yarkov, Rector of the University of Thrace, Sofia Alves, Director for Bulgaria of the European Commission, Metodi Markov, Regional Governor of Stara Zagora.
The Rector of the University of Thrace, prof. Prof. Dobri Yarkov, as a gracious host of the event, proudly acknowledged the opportunity for such large-scale events to take place on the territory of the University. He emphasized that the University of Thrace currently trains about 500 students in the specialties of information technology, IT engineering, cybersecurity, and the direction in which the management is looking is towards the creation of new cadres – engineers in hydrogen technologies.
Director Alves arrived in Stara Zagora at the invitation of EDIH Zagore, accompanied by Yordanka Chobanova, Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria, to welcome the first meeting of the Bulgarian Innovation Hubs. She stressed their importance in the process of digitalization of small and medium enterprises, noting their commitment.
Regional Governor Metodi Markov stressed that the Stara Zagora region is placed in a really difficult situation with regard to the transition of the region and expressed his hopes that this stability, which is starting now, will last long enough.
The second panel, dedicated to the most practical part, was attended by the representatives of the Bulgarian hubs funded under the Digital Europe programme – EDIH Zagore, EDIH in the construction sector, EDIH in the field of cyber security, as well as the agro hub. They shared the difficulties and how to overcome them in order to realise service delivery in their respective sectors. Impressive results through the provision of specialized services to SMEs thanks to the hubs were the focus of the panel.
Lora Yosifova from the Ministry of Innovation and Growth, shared as a representative of the managing authority, what is coming and what expectations are placed on the hubs and through upcoming procedures by the ministry. Michaela Lafonte from Digital Europe also joined in with updates on the EECs. SHE highlighted what is new with the IDN set of hub proposals, as well as the AI challenges to be addressed with the newly created AI factories for the European Hubs network.
Especially for the event, EDIH Zagore welcomed the members of its advisory board, composed of three international experts – Felix Kislik, Pirita Ihamäki, Sinisa Djukic. They presented their advice giving a broad assessment based on their extensive international experience.
