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.

Ms. Zornitsa Tomova recently started own business, the company 42 Ideas (www.42-ideas.com), focused on consultancy services and systematic Innovations.

Mr. Yordan Pashov is the first Bulgarian mentor, participated in Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs. Mr Pashov is manager of travel agency Vistalis (www.vistalis.bg).

The President of the Republic of Bulgaria Mr. Rosen Plevneliev continues the tradition, founded in 2003 with the "John Atanasov" award based on the name of the creator of the first electronic computer - the famous scientist of Bulgarian origin, John Atanasov. It aims to promote the personal achievements of the young Bulgarian scientists working in the fields of informatics and communication technologies, and to create a prosperous and supportive environment for young talents in these areas, as well as supporting the development of information and communication technologies in Bulgaria in 2012.

More information about award, the rules of Selection commission and the general requirements for applicants for the awards could be found here: http://www.president.bg/ja_nominacii_2012.php .

You can ask your questions devoted to the award on: nagradajohnatanasoff@president.bg .

The competition for young researchers „Young & Energetic Scientists” (YES) will take place for the third year in the framework of the European Researchers Night 2012
The competition „Young & Energetic Scientists” (YES) aims to find, motivate and promote the ideas of young and ambitious people with research interests, who will build the link between science, education and business, and ambition to succeed.

You may participate if you are:

Young – between 18 -35 years old

Energetic - young, innovative and ambitious people, who want to learn how to present their ideas and/or science to their application in industry and/or social sector.

Scientist - Young researchers with bachelor, master or PhD degrees,  who want their ideas to be supported in favor of economy and society.

What is sought:

You can send your ambitious technological solutions, ideas that are already developed in the form of your thesis, research work or participation in national or international research project.

Your proposal may be in one or more research areas: automation, electronics and electrical engineering, computer systems and networks, telecommunications technology, programming and software, mechanics and machine technology, robotics, biotechnology and medical research, agricultural technology, applied physics, electron management, construction and architecture, food industry, quality control, ecology and energy.

Awards:

Authors of the ten best proposals will receive certificates of participation and will be included in training to prepare application documents in the "Science - Business" of Ministry of Education, Young and Science and "Erasmus for young entrepreneurs’ of ICT Cluster.

The first five places will be presented to the jury and the wide public within the European Researchers' Night, which will take place on 09.28.2012 at VIVACOM Art Hall (Telephone Palace) in Sofia.

The three most competitive ideas will receive cash prizes by representatives of high- tech companies, and the winner will receive a special prize and will be able to participate in initiatives of the company INTEL (events, conferences).

To participate, please visit www.cys.bg/yes2012 , download, complete and return the application form to yes@cys.bg

Deadline: 10/09/2012

The winners in the different categories of the professional competition for web in Bulgaria were announced on official award –giving ceremony in hotel Arena di Serdica in Jun 28 2012 in Sofia. ICT Cluster was partner of the event.  

Anna Naydenova – Project Manager in Foundation “ICT Cluster” warded Records Management and Alle.bg – make yourself website in the category “Services and Consultation”.

Awards in the different categories were given for:

• Award „Web Agency of the Year“ – Digital Agency eDesign
• Award „Internet Marketing Agency of the Year” - Knoway
• Award „Internet Media of the Year“ – Iconomedia
• Award „The Best Site of the Professional Jury“ – Grabo.bg
• Award „The Best Site of the Branch Jury” – KIA Motors Bulgaria

Total number of the warded companies is 50. There were nominated 2 winners in six categories for one award because of the equal number of points.

The list of the winners is available here: http://webawards.bg/bg/winners. 

The Final Conference of the I-SEEMob (Inter-sectoral mobility of researchers in South-Eastern Europe) Project has been held on 27-28 June 2012 in Ankara, Turkey at the premises of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey.

Thе event brought together the partner countries as well as researchers, industry representatives and policy experts to discuss the results of the project and share recommendations to enhance industry-academia collaboration and promoting inter-sectoral mobility of researchers at the South Eastern Europe Countries. Mr. Petar Statev took part in the conference.

First day of the conference was divided in three sections - political, research and industrial dimensions. On the second day, there was organized a round table session where participating countries as well as researchers, industry representatives and policy experts had the opportunity to discuss the main results of the project more widely and put their opinions forward on how to better exploit these results.

On the link below you can find more information about the conference:
http://www.iseemob.eu/sitegenius/topic.php?lang=EN&id=367

Националният конкурс “Млади таланти” се провежда от 1999 г. и представлява възможност за насърчаване на младите хора – ученици и студенти, притежаващи потенциал и проявяващи интерес към наука и към провеждането на научни изследвания и иновации. Конкурсът е част от инициативите на Министерството на образованието, младежта и науката за подпомагане развитието на младите научни таланти в страната. Национален координатор за провеждане на конкурса в Република България е дирекция "Наука" на Министерството на образованието, младежта и науката.

Като партньорска организация на конкурса ИКТ Клъстер учреди и връчи парична награда и грамота на класирания на първо място проект: „Модерният иконом”  на колектив: Любомир Янчев и Христо Стоянов от Частна немска гимназия „Ерих Кестнер” - София.

Участниците, класирани на първите три места, ще представят България на Европейското състезание за млади учени в гр. Братислава, Словакия, през месец септември т.г.:

• Първо място и парична награда от 1000 лв., осигурена от МОМН , получи проектът „Модерният иконом”  на колектив: Любомир Янчев и Христо Стоянов от Частна немска гимназия „Ерих Кестнер” - София.
• Второ място и парична награда от 900 лв., осигурена от МОМН, получи проектът „Relate2Spot” с автори Димитър Вулджев от НПМГ „Акад. Л. Чакалов” - София и Иван Стефанов от ПМГ „Никола Обрешков” - Казанлък.
• Трето място и парична награда от 800 лв., осигурена от МОМН, получи Пролет Лазарова, ученичка от Втора английска езикова гимназия „Томас Джеферсън” -  София, с проект „Върху една нова геометрична фигура”.

Колективите, заели четвърто и пето място, ще представят своите разработки на Европейското младежко научно изложение  „EXPO SCIENCE EUROPE” 2012  в гр. Тула, Руска федерация през месец юли т.г.

Останалите партньорски организации на конкурса, сред които Британския съвет България, Българо-американската комисия за образователен обмен „Фулбрайт”, Химико-технологичния и металургичен университет - София, Техническия университет - София, Българската асоциация на софтуерните компании (БАСКОМ), фирмите ТЕЛЕРИК АД и SAP LABS България,  също връчиха награди на автори на проекти, участвали в конкурса.