South East Europe Broadband Council organized central annual event, conference with exhibition, which together unit all stakeholders involved in broadband and digital services development. The event took place in hotel Alexander Palace in Skopie, on 14- 15 November 2012.

The conference and exhibition was consisted of presentations and panel discussions, mainly elaborating the development of broadband services and digitalization in every aspect from social importance to creating national strategies, creating new business opportunities and investments in the region. The chairman of ICT Cluster - Mr. Peter Statev - had a speech about Digital Agenda for Europe and Bulgarian broadband initiative during the conference. The other speakers in the event were Mr. Ivo Ivanovski – Minister of Information Society and Administration of R.Macedonia, Mr. Robert Ordanovski – Director of Agency for Electronic Communications of R.Macedonia, Dr. Roger Blakeway – President of SCTE, Mr. Vujica Lazovic – Deputy prime minister of Montenegro and Ms. Sanja Bozik – Project manager of Httpool Macedonia.

At the exhibition were involved the major players from the region – mainly companies from Macedonia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Albania, India etc. Bulgarian cluster Telecommunications was an exhibitor in the event.

General assembly of Association of Business Clusters (ABC) was held on 8 November 2012 in Grand Hotel Sofia.

There was voted changes the number and members of the Management Board and the Control Council of the Association. Mr. Peter Statev, Chairman of ICT Cluster was unanimously chosen for Chairman of management board of ABC. Mr. Peter Belev from Bulgarian cluster Telecommunications is the new Chairman of the Control Council of the Association.  

Six new clusters was adopted for membership in ABC: Bulgarian cluster Telecommunications, ICT Cluster Plovdiv, Electric vehicle industrial cluster, Cluster for health tourism Bulgaria, Cluster Microelectronics and Embedded systems, Srednogorie Med Industrial cluster, Bulgarian ecology cluster, Cluster Plovdiv – ancient and creative and Bulgarian consortium of high-quality wine producers Trakia becomes associated members of ABC. 

Representatives of public administration were guests to assembly:  Mr. Dimitar Milenkov from Presidency of Republic Bulgaria, Mr. Kiril Geratliev – Director of Directorate “General European Funds for competitiveness” and experts from Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism.

The new Management Board of ABC and Mr. Kiril Geratliev – Director of Directorate “General European Funds for competitiveness” express their willingness for dialogue aiming at development of clusters in Bulgaria and creating of sustainable cluster policy.

Visit the new brand European Seal of e-Excellence website and apply to become part of the exclusive CLUB OF e-EXCELLENCE.

The European Seal of e-Excellence is looking for companies that have successfully translated an innovative idea into a valuable and bankable product/service that has an excellent track record in the market.

Apply now online at www.seal-of-excellence.org

Deadline: 30 November 2012.

During January 2012 representatives of five IT Associations set up Expert working group till E-Government Council or so called “Expert working group on E-Government”.

Association of Business Clusters (ABC) will hold general cluster meeting on 08 November 2012. Important point in the meeting agenda is adoption of candidatures for membership form clusters.

The clusters, which would like to declare their candidatures, should send the following documents: Membership application; Declaration 2.4 (for regular members) or Declaration 2.5 (for associated members) to office@absclusters.org not later than 5 November 2012.

During September 2011 Bulgarian association of software companies (BASSCOM) establish working group of education with representatives of its company members.

The 10-th anniversary issue of European Day of the Entrepreneur (EDE) take place in National Palace of Culture on 16 – 17 October 2012 under the slogan "Together for a New Growth: Science and Entrepreneurship in the Single Market". The initiative was organised by Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” in collaboration with Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism (MEET) and with the financial support of the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria.

The EDE two days’ agenda was structured in 24 panel sessions devoted to different topics, variety of sessions, round tables, workshops and serious games. Main lecturers will be representatives of the European Commission, governmental and local institutions, NGOs, business associations and chambers, universities, consultants, specialists, municipality experts, and others who have responsibilities to the entrepreneurship development in the environment of the Single Market.
During the second day of EDE in the framework of session “Entrepreneurship Environment and the Technology Transfer Processes” Mrs. Krasimira Shindarova present opportunities for experience and good practices exchange which offer program “Erazmus for young entrepreneurs”. ICT Cluster is a project partner of E3 II, which is part of the fourth phase of the program.

Mr. Peter Statev was speaker and leading the panel “Extension of possibilities for work of high qualified specialists in public and private sector”. The main purpose of this session was to present the network for scientist exchange EURAXESS, where ICT Cluster is Local Contact of Point. After the presentations, all participants take part in common discussion, aiming to reveal how EURAXESS could better its services in order to be closer to the industry needs.

“Green Entrepreneurship” movie was presented during the EDE.

The Erasmus Entrepreneurship Content 2012 has been organized by the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme in order to reward entrepreneurs and Intermediary organizations for their commitment to the participation in the Programme.

Three Bulgarian young entrepreneurs, supported by ICT Cluster are among the winners in the Erasmus Entrepreneurship Contest New entrepreneur George Georgiev is among the first 20 in the category Best success story video. You can see the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9YZNX0zp3o
Ms. Svetlana Goranova and Ms. Lyubomira Alexieva are rewarded among the first 10 best business concept. 

The Awards Ceremony was organised by the European Commission, DG Enterprise and Industry with the collaboration of the Cyprus Presidency of the European Council. It was attended by Members of the European Parliament, a representative of the Cyprus Presidency of the European Council, the SME envoy from the European Commission as well as by entrepreneurs who participated in the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs Programme.

Smart Buildings – the New Accent of the South-East European Eco Forum
29-31 May 2013, Sofia, Bulgaria, Organizer: Via Expo
In Partnership with ITC Cluster

The concept of ‘Intelligent Buildings’ quickly gained popularity in South-East Europe, which market has growing potential. It associates with energy saving and exceptional comfortable environment.

‘Smart Buildings’ is the only specialized b2b initiative in Bulgaria with a focus on the integrated building automation and management systems. The event will be held within the SEE Eco Forum, organized by Via Expo.

Through the years it has been continuously broadening its scope and as a result the 2013 edition will incorporate several concurrent events covering related topics with direct environmental impact – energy efficiency, renewable energy and waste management.

The Exhibition scope includes: Communication Systems, Building Management Systems, Heating / Cooling Intelligent Control, Remote Control Systems, Lighting Management Systems, Access Control Systems, Automation Software, Parking Management Systems, Energy Management Systems, etc.

‘Smart Buildings’ will attract a great number of visitors on a global scale - professionals and entrepreneurs in the construction industry and architecture.
Keynote speakers will participate in the parallel comprehensive program. The main sessions will be: Building Automation Systems /BAS/, Building Energy Management Systems /BEMS/, Smart Meters, Building Management Systems /BMS/, Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings Implementation, Building Information Modeling /BIM/, Passive House & Zero Energy Buildings, Benchmarking of Regulations on Energy Efficiency of Buildings and Energy Storage.

Brochure

Organizer: www.viaexpo.com

KosICT is a regional conference, organized by the Kosovo Association of Information and Communication Technology (STIKK). It is an important event for the regional and local companies and service providers operating in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This year the conference took place on 27 September 2012 at hotel Emerald in Prishtina, Kosovo.

Mahir Yagcilar Public Administration minister in the Kosovo Government welcomed the conference organized by STIKK. Opening words at the KosICT had also Ms. Sirje Poder, Team Leader Economic Development at European Union Office in Kosovo and Mr. Valon Budima – Vice President of the Board, STIKK.

Тhe conference covers topics such as:

• eGovernance
• Role of Social Media in Business Development
• Mobile Solutions
• Innovative Business Models.

Representatives of public and private companies and organizations in ICT field from Kosovo, Estonia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Norway, Austria and Croatia presented their work in the panels. The conference finished with SEE ICT Forum Board Meeting where representatives of ICT Cluster took part.

Kosovar and foreign businesses - mainly ICT companies from Bulgaria took part at an activity called “B2B Meeting” that was held on Friday 28th September 2012 at the premises of Innovation Centre Kosovo (ICK). They have the chance to promote their activities while searching for new business opportunities.  

For more information about the conference, please visit the conference’s website: http://www.kosict.com/

Bulgarian centre for women in technology was set up on 19 September 2012 in Sofia. Ms. Anna Naydenova, project manager in ICT Cluster, take part in the event.
 
 “Our main purpose was not just the creation of woman organization. We create a woman organisation, which will support development of competitiveness of Bulgarian and European economy”  said Ms. Sasha Bezuhanova, Chairwomen of Bulgarian center for women in technology (BCWT). BCWT is part of European centre for women in technology (ECWT), which is under the auspices of Vice president of European Commission and commissioner for digital policy – Ms. Neelie Kroes.

The centre will work in close connection with academia, non-government organisations, business and government. One of the most ambitious purpose of the organisation is to raise the number of women in technology and to stimulate their professional development in the ICT sector.

On 20 September representatives of BCWT met Ms. Neelie Kroes, during her stay in Bulgaria, and make her familiar with their priorities and future activities.

Regional conference “Digital Agenda for Europe: Reality or still challenge” was held on 20 September 2012 in hotel Sheraton, Sofia. The event was organized by Ministry of transport, information technology and communications.

The conference was officially opened by Deputy Minister of transport, information technology and communications – Mr. Valery Borisov, Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for the Digital Agenda for Europe – Ms. Neelie Kroes and Minister Ivaylo Moskovski. It gave a chance for exchange of best practices on implementation of Digital Agenda for Europa 2012 on regional level. There was representatives of state administration and business of many European countries, such as Poland, Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Serbia, Montenegro, Turkey, Macedonia, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, republic of Kosovo. 

Chairman of ICT Cluster – Mr. Peter Statev – was moderator of discussions in the first and the second panel. They were focused on challenges towards e-Government and free wireless communications in European Union. Another topic, which was discussed, was emergency calls or so called e-Call Service, and also broadband internet access in schools. The conference put accent on achieved progress in the countries in the region and reveals tendencies for new regional partnerships.