On the 28^th and 29^th of March 2024, was held this year's edition of ICT Cluster’s SCALE UP event – SCALE UP WEB.
Read more and use the link for the video recording and presentation of the event.

📌 The Open Call is open from 15th March 2024 until Thursday 16 May 2024 , 17:00 CEST !

Suppose you are a Small or Medium Enterprise (SME) and start up working on Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Blockchain (BC) technologies , from the digital ,manufacturing, mobility, logistics or energy industrial ecosystem.

✅ In that case ,this Open Call is perfect f or you !

The Mission is aims to provide insights and tools regarding new business models from data and to develop potential collaborations and cooperation opportunities with different stakeholders in the AI and BC fields from the United States .Be ready to take your business and make valuable connections in the AI and BC fields.

📲 Ready to join the movement, visit the link : https://piemonteinnova.it/bandi/aibc-international-mission-austin/?lang=en&fbclid=IwAR0v5rsK688ZqyvXpuA3vzAwIM7rv3iKNWTPq2mPyy8q9FOIbNF467A7LFk_aem_AULohhT4FOJQNRyQIDyxBslvGWytgEgjBPU8mtR4LxhC3WumFzcYEZHKvIucBtdYBijWQwtTkjKJu3eW1s5zlNpM

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱-𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗠𝗘𝘀!
Is your business on the lookout for opportunities to enhance your team's knowledge on crucial green topics such as energy efficiency, circular economy or environmental compliance? Are you eager to create a sustainability roadmap that will guide your journey towards a more sustainable future? Or perhaps your SME is set to undertake a comprehensive life cycle analysis to check its environmental footprint?
𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝘀!
Dive into our latest call for applications and discover a network of experts ready to guide your company through its green transition or bring your own green expert that will support your company on your way. Receive €3600 to fund your SME's sustainability consultancy with one of our green experts. Apply now! And present one of your initiatives or projects related to ESG - choose your favourite green expert from our catalogue or bring your own one. Discover which are the rules and services that can be covered in our dedicated website: https://lnkd.in/dyEvPBsU
𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝘅𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁
It is a "first in, first served" approach which means that you should not wait until the last minute as we will cover 25 project under this mechanism designed to elevate your sustainability initiatives. Don't let this opportunity slip through your fingers. The last day for applications is the 30th of April. Ensure your company is positioned to benefit from this unique offer.
🔗 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘄 & 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 🔗
Check the link attached to find more information on how to embark on this transformative journey and how to apply for our open call.

On February 20-21, 2024, the Danube DNA project kick-off meeting took place in the city of Novi cad, Serbia.  The event was attended by Anna Naydenova and Todor Mitov, from ICT Cluster, which is a partner in the project, and Mr. Nejmi MyuminHodjov, deputy mayor of Ardino municipality, associate partner.

The first day of the meeting was dedicated to a general presentation of the partners and the project activities. The specific activities for the first period were also shown.

In the transformation of small and medium-sized production enterprises from the Danube region, through the creation of a network of centers for the transfer of knowledge and technologies. The project is co-financed under the Danube Interreg program.

The second day was an official ceremony of signing the partnership agreement on the project.

Danube DNA is a project promoting the digital and sustainable transformation of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises from the Danube region, through the creation of a network of knowledge and technology transfer centers. The project is co-financed under the Danube Interreg program.

The application deadline is March 15 , 2024 !

We are pleased to present to your attention the story of the successful exchange of the budding entrepreneur Bogomil Neikov and the host entrepreneur Hans Dan.

The exchange was carried out under the "Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs " program, which provided an opportunity for the two participants to embark on a transformative journey that would help them create new contacts ,exchange ideas and experience and create opportunities for new future collaborations.

Bogomil Neikov is a budding entrepreneur in the field interior design , and a Hans Dan is an established specialist and expert in the field. The common passion for interior design met the two entrepreneurs in the month of May 2023.The novice entrepreneur is motivated to improve his skills , develop an entrepreneur is willing to share his knowledge and experience .

The main goals that the budding entrepreneur is focused on during the exchange are : 

- Expanding knowledge in computer skills ,3D modeling ,budgeting and communications skills.

- Turning your design sketches into real paintings 

- Collaborations with various professionals - from architects and engineers to clients.

- Market trend research 

- Creating a successful interior design company

For the host entrepreneur ,the desired outcomes are:

- Improving your mentoring skills 

- Support for the novice entrepreneur in gaining practical experience 

- Acquaintance with the least software programs and effective methods of attracting customers that will contribute to the development of his own business.

 During their participation in the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs program , the budding entrepreneur and the host entrepreneur participated in the various activities to promote professional development. 

They built a "mentor-mentee " relationship , working closely together to develop the budding entrepreneur's skills in interior design and entrepreneurship.

During the 6 month exchange ,the NP actively participated in client meetings helping him gain insight into preferences ,interior styles and color schemes .Conducting consultations on the selection of materials ,furnishings and decor contributes to the development of  the novice entrepreneur's practical experience and understanding of the initial requirements of the project.

Improving the computer skills of the budding entrepreneur has been achieved through working with design software and 3D modeling tools .

The host entrepreneur also hones skills in document management ,scheduling ,project risk identifications and budgeting .

The professional relationship built by the two entrepreneurs is the reason why the exchange of experience was successful .

Hans Dann provided mentoring and Bogomil Neikov actively participated in real design projects. The collaborations gave Bogomil the opportunity to gain practical experience and knowledge in the field of interior design and to develop his creative eye for detail. Hans honed his mentoring skills and expanded his industry network .

The joint work between Bogomil Neikov and Hans Dann is a prerequisite for future cooperation.

💬 "...This experience provided me with the skills and knowledge I needed to develop as an entrepreneur in the world of interior design.. - Bogomil Neikov"

💬 "... Seeing the growth and development of the budding entrepreneur first- hand knowing , that I played part in it ,was really satisfying .. " - Hans Dan

 🗓️ 29 November  ⏰14:00-15:15 CET

The organizations representing the high-tech business, including:

-Association for Innovation, Business Services and Technology -  AIBEST;
-Alliance of the Technology Industry - АTI;
-Bulgarian Association for Information Technologies - BAIT;
-Bulgarian Association of Software Companies -BASCOM;
-Bulgarian Entrepreneur Association - BESCO;
-Bulgarian Employers' Association of Innovative Technologies -BRAIT ;
-ICT Cluster,
we express our categorical position against the introduction of an automatic formula for the annual increase of the maximum insurance threshold (MOD).

We are surprised that the subject of the increase in the MOD is raised once again in the absence of any strategy to meet the challenges facing our industry and analysis of the overall effect on the Bulgarian economy.

We believe that the government shares the understanding that it is strategically important for Bulgaria to create a good environment for the development of high-tech business, which is export-oriented and has a key role in the formation of the middle class and the achievement of greater growth of the gross domestic product of our country. Building this environment is a complex topic related to improving access to investment, improving the regulatory framework and improving access to highly qualified personnel, including the much-needed reforms in the education system. A competitive and regulated tax-insurance system is an important part of the overall framework in which business develops.

Thus, the automatic formula proposed by the Ministry of Finance for the annual increase of the MOD, especially in a variant that represents a coefficient of the average salary for the country, risks quickly and irreversibly taking away the competitiveness of the Bulgarian high-tech sector, as well as of all other sectors that operate transparently , make a significant contribution to the national budget, paying the highest taxes and insurances, retain talent in the country and provide high added value for society.

Despite the serious growth of high-tech industries, which are already responsible for more than 20% of the country's gross domestic product, the costs of our companies have been increasing in the last two years by more than 30% on an annual basis. Against this backdrop, being tied to an automatic formula will not only fail to provide the vital normal business environment, it will also take away the possibilities for flexible policy in the dynamically changing conditions we are undoubtedly facing. It is also possible that the number of newly opened jobs will decrease, because some high-tech companies may move to other countries in search of a more attractive and, above all, regulated business environment.

The introduction of an automatic formula for the annual increase of the MOD will have a negative impact on both the costs of employers and the net remuneration of each high-tech specialist. We would like to remind you that even at the moment, everyone employed in our sector pays taxes and insurance, which are twice the national average.

According to a nationally representative survey by the Guidance Agency, more than a third of young people are oriented towards education and a career in this field. The IT and telecom sector undoubtedly has a growing share of representativeness of the interests of young people and is the key to dealing with the demographic crisis. Increasing the tax burden on IT and telecom talent is a counterproductive and dangerous message to the highly educated and highly qualified professionals who chose to stay in Bulgaria and be the engine of consumption in a number of sectors of the economy.

At the same time, there has been a hunger for talent and migration in our industry for at least 10 years. The remote working method imposed by the COVID pandemic further worsens the situation, because our IT specialists can even more easily work for companies from more developed economies around the world, i.e. they migrate to foreign employers without having to relocate.

This will undoubtedly reflect negatively on the role of the IT industry in supporting the process of digitization of the Bulgarian economy and society, whose accelerated development is a priority in the NPVU (the DESI index and the country's penultimate place).

Against this background, it is good to think about how to stimulate the development of the high-tech industry by developing tax reliefs, to encourage its contribution to the digital transformation of the Bulgarian economy, to increase investments in innovative developments, and why not to think about a differentiated approach to reducing (or exempting for a certain period) insurance and general income tax in the industry, as in a number of other Eastern European countries.

Our call is for the government to abandon the initiative to introduce an automatic formula to raise the maximum insurance threshold every year. We appreciate that the conversation continues and believe it is crucial to understand that the fight against high inflation is not yet over and we have not achieved the economic stability that better planning of the country's tax-insurance policy would help.

We appeal, before discussing any increase in the MOD, to propose a number of more effective concrete measures to replenish the treasury and improve the welfare of Bulgarian citizens, such as:

-Highlighting entire sectors of the Bulgarian economy;
-Keeping talent in the country;
-Building and promoting the "Bulgaria" brand abroad in order to attract investments;
-Promoting us as a country of Artificial Intelligence development and focus on preventing possible negative consequences on the labor market;
-Provision of education adequate to the needs of the business;
-Creation of adequate conditions and targeted policy in the field of health care and social services, increasing the quality of life of all Bulgarians;
-Preventing the demographic catastrophe through consistent and targeted measures and policies; Restoring the rule of law;
Development of sectoral policies - especially those aimed at the sectors that work for export, as they are a source of permanent transparent income in the country's economy.

One of the approved projects is of a Bulgarian company - AIWeeder (AI for smart weeding support for farmers).

Grab your ticket now! 

19.09 and 20.09 - in Bucharest, Romania and online

AIBC EUROCLUSTERS is launching four exciting open calls!