The European Seal of e-Excellence will be held the 5th March 2013 at the Open Stage of the CeBIT, Hannover, Germany. First we want to invite you at this unique event. Our sponsor Deutsche Messe made available for you and your network free e-tickets for a day. Follow this link: http://www.cebit.de/en/promo?7k4vb

Enterprise Europe Network in partnership with ICT Cluster, Bulgarian Association of software companies (BASSCOM) and Bulgarian association of information technologies (BAIT) organized international Brokerage Event Future Match 2013 (www.futurematch.cebit.de), which will take place on CeBIT, Hannover, Germany, 5 – 9 March 2013.

Future Match will give you the opportunity to meet providers of new ICT services and technologies from all over the world at one place; to find customers for your products; to realize successful business contacts for different kinds of cooperation.

At Future Match 2012 participated over 390 organizations form 39 countries, and there was more than 1500 business meetings held between them. This year participants could take the advantage to arrange individual meetings with experts on Intellectual property on IPR Helpdesk. Registered participants could use a booth with all technical equipment for their business meetings. 

How to participate?

1. Register on Future Match 2013 (http://www.b2match.com/futurematch);
2. Publish your business profile till 18 February 2013;
3. You can arrange meetings with business partners during CeBIT trough online catalogue till 24 February 2013. After meeting confirmation, participants will receive individual schedules.   
4. Participation fee – 110 euro (including VAT) with ticket for exhibition.

ICT Cluster will take part in two projects under Operational Programme “Development of human resources” 2007 – 2013 in partnership with TU Sofia (Faculty of Telecommunications, Faculty of Industrial Technology and Faculty of Electronics) and New Bulgarian University (Faculty of Telecommunications). The projects are approved for financing under measure BG051PO001-3.01.7 „Improving the quality of education and training in correspondence with the labour market needs for building a knowledge-based economy”.

The activities under this project are aiming to update curriculums in universities in order to correspondence to the real market needs. With its expertise in telecommunications and microelectronics ICT Cluster will contribute to the research and analysis of market needs and approbation of the new curriculums in the academic environment. This will create links between business and academia.

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