На 10 февруари 2015 г. в залата на община Пловдив се състоя първата среща клъстерите в Южна България.

В срещата взеха участие клъстери-членове на АБК, клъстери от Южна България, представители на различни институции – инж. Иван Тотев – кмет на Община Пловдив, проф. д-р Михаил Петров – директор на ТУ София – клон Пловдив, н.с. Георги Врагов – Институт по математика и информатика БАН и представител на ФНТС Пловдив, Петър Ганев – старши икономист в Института за пазарна икономика.

След представяне на клъстерите участници в срещата се състояха няколко дискусьонни панела. Бяха обсъдени теми за клъстерното развитие, включващи: „Политика на ЕС за развите на конкурентоспособни клъстери“, „Рамковите програми на ЕК касаещи бизнес клъстерите и конкурентоспособността на бизнеса“, „Предизвикателства и перспективи за развитие на бизнес клъстери в Южна България“ и др.

Срещата завърши с пешеходен тур – „Пловдив Античност с Бъдеще“, последван от нетуъркинг джаз-сешън „Българският клъстерен бизнес по световния път на пловдивския джаз“ – Бели, Зелени, Червени / Огнян Видев, специално организирани за всички участници.

The aim of the memorandum is to establish a closer cooperation between the two organizations which are committed to work in the field of intelligent transport and "green" economy in Bulgaria and in the region.

The two clusters will examine the possibilities of developing national, regional and international partnerships in various areas related to the implementation of innovations and intelligent solutions in the field of transport, leading to increase the efficiency of the sector and to increase the impact of the environmental protection and reduction of the carbon emissions.

The business organizations will focus on the implementation of projects and transfer of European and international best practices in the field of intelligent transport systems.

Cluster Green Freight Transportation was founded in 2011, Sofia as the first Union of vertically integrated business operations in Bulgaria in the field of mobility of cargoes. The cluster combines all transport modalities in the country - terminals, forwarders, brokers and operators. Strategic goal for the development of Cluster Green Freight Transportation in the long term is a possible natural development as Bulgarian intermodal operator to fill the gap between shippers, consignees and rail transport.

On 12 December 2014, in Istanbul Turkey, ICT Cluster has organized the kick off meeting of the Balkanand Black Sea ICT Clusters Network. The meeting gave opportunity to partners to meet each other,present their organizations and activities and discussed future development of the Network.

The presentations from the meeting you can find here:
BBS ICT Clusters Network Kick off Meeting, Istanbul, Turky, 12.12.204
Alena Palasheva - ICT Cluster Plovdiv
Brano Vujicic - ICT Association of Chamber of Commerce FBiH
Burcu Uslu - ODTÜ Teknokent
Dritan Mezini - Albanian IT Association
Marina Blagojevic - Serbian Clusters
Milena Terzieva - Bulgarian Cluster Telecommunications
Nektaria Berikou - Corallia
Rustu Arseven - Tübifed
Peter Statev - ICT Cluster
Yiannis Kotsis-Giannarakis - HAMAC
Zana Karkin - BIT Alliance

In Brussels, 19 Nov 2014 - The European Telecommunication Standards Institute members elected Mr. Peter Statev as Vice Chairman of the ETSI General Assembly.

The same day, Mr. Sebastiano Toffaletti was elected as member of ETSI Board. Mr. Statev and Mr. Toffaletti were canditated by Small Business Standards (the European association representing SMEs in the standard making process at European and international levels).  The candidates represent SBS’ network and work in the ICT sector, particularly focusing on representing SME interests at European level.

Upon his election, Mr. Statev said: “My duty will be to use my knowledge, experience and professional network in order to represent the interest of all European SMEs and ICT entrepreneurs in ETSI, as well as continue the positive dialogue with the large industry players. Interoperability and standards are necessary to create the conditions for European SMEs to grow.”

ICT Cluster is a partner in the project “Bridging business and vocational training”- Bulgarian-German project to improve employment opportunities for young people in Bulgaria.

The project aims to improve the quality of education and access to employment in Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine. The "European integration of Southeast Europe" supports educational reforms in these countries through the development of qualifications and credit systems in accordance with EU requirements, allowing transparency and comparability of diplomas and qualifications across Europe. Thus partners acquire competencies to develop new educational programs. Supported by a number of representatives of industry and business organizations, universities and the National Agency for Vocational Education and Training.

The project is implemented by both Bulgaria and a numerous countries such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine.

A meeting of the Working group for ICT of “Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation” was held on November 8th 2014 in Yerevan, Armenia. Mr. Peter Statev – Chairman of the Managing board of ICT Cluster, presented the “Balkan and Black Sea ICT Clusters Network” before the representatives of the countries members of BSEC. The initiative was supported by Bulgaria, Rоmania and Turkey. It is expected the other countries members to state their position, soon.

The “Balkan and Black Sea ICT Clusters Network” was launched at ICT conference in April organized by ICT Cluster and “Ministry of Transport Information Technology and Communications” in the framework of  the Bulgarian chairmanship of “Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation”. The network has 16 members from Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Rоmania, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

You can showcase your best use of information and communication technologies in front of our judges and Europe, and win our Jubilee 20 years Discobolos award.

JISA - Union of ICT Societies in cooperation with the CEPIS - Council of European Professional Informatics Societies, EEIG - European Economic Chamber of Trade Commerce and Industry, regional chambers of commerce, information technology associations and numerous ICT experts compiled an international jury that will announce the most interesting solutions in use of information technologies in the following categories: Production, Project, Management, Public services, Finance, Health, Education, Services, Web achievements, Professional ICT conferences, Radio and TV Shows, ICT Publishing and Global partners.

Your APPLICATION must be filled on the website www.jisa.rs and should contain a brief description of the solution in desired category. It will be distributed among all members of the eminent jury for analyses, and by the collecting their points we will get this year's main and special awards.

The competition is open until 15th November 2014.
The award ceremony: is scheduled for 10th December 2014, Belgrade city Assembly Old Castle, in the presence of eminent guests from Europe and Serbian government.

Representatives of ICT Cluster attended the fourth European Cluster Conference which took place in Brussels on October 20-21. The aim of the conference was to discuss latest trends and challenges for modern cluster policies and to identify priority areas for a new European Cluster Strategy for Growth. The participants had the opportunity to vote on different statements related to the formulation of a dynamic European cluster policy framework.

The final text of the declaration voted during the conference is available - here
Conference coverage video - here

You can find the speakers’ presentation at the following links:
1. Challenges for a new European Cluster Strategy for Growth,Massimo Baldinato;
2. A National Perspective from France on cluster policy challenges, Alain Schmitt; 
3. A Perspective from the Basque Country on the vanguard role that cluster policies can play in regional smart specialisation strategies, Arantxa Tapia;
4. The Business Perspective: The role of clusters in supporting SMEs to access industrial value chains, Franz Josef Kirschfink;
5. Findings from the Emerging Industries report and the European Cluster Excellence Scoreboard of the European Cluster Observatory, Laurent Probst;
6. New cluster mapping and trends, model demonstrator regions and services from the European Cluster Observatory, Christian Ketels and Kincso Izsak;
7. Actions for new linkages needed - A policy roadmap for stimulating emerging industries, Lennart Svensson;
8. The role of cluster organisations in supporting emerging industries, Gerd Meier zu Köcker;
9. Upcoming Commission call for cluster facilitated projects for new industrial value chains to help SMEs innovate and grow, Kirsi Ekroth-Manssila;
10. The future role of clusters in supporting cross-sectoral actions and growth, Mr. Anders Eldrup;
11. Elements of excellent policy for fostering mature and emerging clusters and benchmarking of cluster programs, Thomas Lämmer-Gamp;
12. Changes in cluster policy and how to measure their economic impact, Emily Wise;
13. The role of clusters in smart specialisation strategies and first trends observed, Claire Nauwelaers;
14. Development needs for cluster management excellence: Results from the benchmarking and labelling of cluster organisation, Helmut Kergel;
15. Widening of training modules for cluster managers, Reza Zadeh;
16. Observations from the first steps of European Strategic Cluster Partnerships and EU cluster matchmaking events, Marc Pattinson;
17. Growth accelerators and clusters, Nicholas Coutts;
18. Coworking incubation and clusters – Connecting to creatives and start-ups, Florian Bergmann;
19. Alternative sources of financing from cross-sectoral innovation vouchers, microcredits, refundable contributions, peer-to-peer lending to crowdfunding: What help can cluster support offer?, Edgar Garcia;
20. Designing new directions for cluster policies, Madeline Smith;

On October 15^-th at Nis, Serbia 16 ICT clusters and ICT organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding. This is the second step of the initiative of creating a ICT clusters network in the Balkan and Black sea region.  The initiative started with a conference held in April 2014 organized by Foundation ICT Cluster and Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications within the bulgarian chairmanship of “Black Sea Economic Cooperation".
 The main objective of the network is to enhance cooperation between ICT clusters and to create more business opportunities by joining the efforts, support innovation and foster collaboration for joint research projects.

As part of the ICT Forum 2014 conference on October, 15th, 2014 will be hend USAID WORKSHOP No. 2 in Nis, Serbia.

 USAID Workshop no. 1 took place in Novi Sad at the end of May 2014. Then were initiated several topics on which can be developed a joint project proposal , which can  be submit to the EU funding calls. This workshop will be focused on reviewing a project proposal that is initiated by the Bulgarian ICT Cluster and is addressing a COSME call related to cluster collaboration.

Also part of the event will be singnig of Memorandum for understanding between: ICT Cluster Bulgaria; Bulgarian Telecommunications Cluster; NICAT; Vojvodina Cluster; ICT Cluster – Plovdiv; ICT NET; Albanian ICT Association; Cluj ICT Cluster; MASIT; Corallia; HAMAC and ODTU TEKNOKENT Yonetim AS, which is Turkish  technology park managing two clusters - defence cluster and ICT Cluster.

The events agenda you can find here: USAID Workshop No. 2 - Agenda

On 30th September and 1st October at Hilton Hotel, Sofia, will be held the International HR Conference.

 ICT Cluster is partner of the event, which will provide the participants the combination of practical advice, successful approaches, and best practices. The two-day event is designed to bring together the HR Managers of top manufacturing companies together with professional universities to present examples of successful collaboration and to strengthen and sustain this cooperation.

Key Topics include:
∙ Best Practice Examples in Human Capital Management shared by global automotive & technology leaders and experience to realize it in Bulgaria
∙ Business and Universities speak about their cooperation and the latest Human Capital trends
∙ Next EU Program period – advantages and new opportunities
∙ Practical case studies from Bulgaria and Romania & how to implement in Bulgaria the successful experience of our partners

The Delegates will have the opportunity to learn about the best HR Practices and developments in Talent Acquisition, Employee Engagement, and Learning & Development. The presentation of the Concept of Dual Education System will emphasize on the advantages of the collaboration between the educational programs and the business and on how to strengthen this process in Bulgaria.

The forum will feature senior-level international speakers and HR professionals awarded for their achievements and contribution to the HR domain.

The HR Conference will be a rewarding event for all delegates. They will not only experience it as a stimulating platform to explore latest trends in HR, but will also have best opportunities to exchange ideas in a highly focused Automotive and Technology environment.
 
For more information and registration details please visit:
http://automotive.bg/hr-group/hr-conference/

ИКТ Клъстер беше изпълнител на обществена поръчка към Министерство на транспорта, информационните технологии и съобщенията , за изготвяне на „Национален план за широколентова инфраструктура за достъп от следващо поколение (NGA)”.  На 25.06.2014 националният план беше гласуван и приет на заседанието на правителството.

Целият текст на плана може да откриете на линка по-долу:
„Национален план за широколентова инфраструктура за достъп от следващо поколение (NGA)”