SCAILE UP 2025
05/29/2025
In an era of accelerating digital transformation and artificial intelligence, SCAILE UP 2025 brought together leading Bulgarian SMEs, tech innovators, academic institutions, and cluster organizations to discuss the future of competitiveness and smart growth through AI.
Hosted at the prestigious Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia, the event welcomed around 50 participants from the industrial and tech sectors, offering them a full-day program of strategic discussions, training sessions, and live technology demonstrations.
InnovationAmp – Unlocking AI for Businesses and Municipalities
The event opened with the official introduction of InnovationAmp, Bulgaria’s European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH), co-financed under the “Research, Innovation and Digitalization for Smart Transformation” Programme.
Peter Statev, Chairman of the ICT Cluster and Chairman of InnovationAmp, presented InnovationAmp’s mission to support SMEs and public institutions in their digital transition through access to high-performance computing, training programs, and AI integration services.
Key institutional partners took the stage to showcase their contributions and services under the InnovationAmp umbrella:
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Mihail Zagorski, Technical University Sofia – on access to digital infrastructure and advanced industrial tech training
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Ivan Draganov, GATE Institute – on data-driven strategy, smart city analytics, and data spaces
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Georgi Robev, Strategic Center for AI (SCAI) – on supporting AI entrepreneurship and market readiness
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Anna Naydenova, Executive Director, ICT Cluster – on supporting SMEs through training, assessment, and project development
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Todor Mladenov, Executive Director, Sofia Tech Park – on enabling innovation and accelerating business growth
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Mihail Iliev, Sofia Tech Labs – on “Test Before Invest” services and emerging technology access
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Kiril Kirilov, Discoverer – on Bulgaria’s high-performance computing infrastructure
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Kamen Slavov, DIGITECH 4.0 – on sustainable digitalization support for industrial SMEs
The session concluded with a moderated panel discussion exploring how digital innovation hubs are becoming essential platforms for regional growth and competitiveness.































AI in Action – BrAIn Project & BRAIN++ (Two Paths, One Vision)
The afternoon transitioned into hands-on learning and real-world application under two distinct AI initiatives:
🔹 BrAIn Project – EU Support for Regional AI Readiness
Todor Mitov, Project Manager at ICT Cluster, presented the BrAIn Project, funded by the Interreg Programme. The project is designed to increase AI readiness in cross-border regions through knowledge exchange, practical training, and cluster collaboration. The initiative helps SMEs understand how to integrate AI responsibly and effectively, focusing on accessibility, awareness, and ecosystem building.
🔹 BRAIN++ – Bulgaria’s Next-Gen AI Infrastructure
Kiril Kirilov, Operational Manager at Discoverer, introduced BRAIN++, a separate national-level initiative.
BRAIN++ is a comprehensive AI supercomputing ecosystem built around the Discoverer petascale supercomputer, supporting:
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Foundational AI models like BgGPT
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COMPL-AI tools for EU-aligned trustworthy AI compliance
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Federated AI data lakes and sandbox environments for experimentation
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Integration with national and European HPC networks
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Access to sector-specific AI development tools and VC-backed scaling opportunities







From Theory to Practice – AI Lessons from the Field
In a practical and critical session, Petko Karamochev, CEO of INDUSTRIA, presented “Common Pitfalls in Using Manus and AI Agents”, based on real-world experience developing autonomous AI workflows. He explored the hype vs. utility of current generative agents, discussing challenges such as unclear task boundaries, AI hallucinations, and integration bottlenecks — offering valuable insights for companies exploring similar solutions.
AI in Manufacturing – Real Demo, Real Impact
Kristina Todorova delivered two powerful sessions focused on the real-world use of AI in manufacturing. In her talk, she outlined how AI is revolutionizing:
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Predictive maintenance
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Defect detection through computer vision
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Process automation
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Quality control and yield optimization
She concluded with a demo case, showcasing an AI-powered system for visual defect detection in production environments — achieving near real-time performance and high accuracy, even in challenging industrial conditions.



















Building Bridges Between Technology and Application
SCAILE UP 2025 once again proved that the combination of digital hubs, high-performance infrastructure, expert networks, and engaged SMEs can accelerate innovation on a national scale. The event empowered attendees with the knowledge, resources, and connections to implement AI in meaningful, scalable ways.
















