Scale UP Days 2023 - Robotics, Digital Twins and Funding opportunities

Day of robotics, day of digital twins, presentation and visit the laboratories and supercomputer of Sofia Tech Park, demonstrations of specific innovation projects in the field of Digital Twins, robotics and artificial intelligence, opportunities for digital innovation hubs and small and medium enterprises were just a part of the topics in the program of Scale UP Days 2023.

The event uniting the innovation ecosystem in Bulgaria - technology companies, production and agro-enterprises, digital innovation hubs and clusters, was held in the period April 25-27 in the Laboratory Complex of Sofia Tech Park.

The participants had the opportunity to get acquainted with the possibilities of financing and supporting innovative projects in the upcoming year, to get familiar with the novelties and trends in the field of artificial intelligence, robotics and digital twins, to exchange ideas and experience and create new contacts and partnerships in B2B cocktail. Companies developing innovative solutions in the field of robotics had the opportunity to demonstrate them at their stand.

The conference was organized by  ICT Cluster, in partnership with DigiTech 4.0, Sofia Tech Park and the Mechatronics and Automation Cluster and took place with the financial support of the European Commission within the BOWI, DIH World, DIH2 and agROBOfood projects.

Scale Up Days 2023 was moderated by Todor Mitov (ICT Cluster). Mr. Petar Statev opened the event with an interesting and inspiring session analyzing the benefits of digital transformation and presenting the activities of ICT Cluster as an organization that offers individual support to the needs of Bulgarian innovative small and medium-sized enterprises.

The first day of the conference was focused on financing opportunities for innovative projects of small and medium-sized enterprises and digital innovation hubs:

• Kristina Karanikolova (TNO), Todor Mitov (ICT Cluster) and Hans Hof (Bulcharge) presented the European Network for the Promotion of Digital Innovations - BOWI, introducing the event participants to the activities, services and success stories of the project.
• Ali Muhammad (European Dynamics) presented RAMP: Robotics and Automation Marketplace bringing together technology providers, manufacturing SMEs and artists, offering digital infrastructure and services for robotics and automation on FIWARE.
• Anna Naydenova and Krasimira Shindarova presented opportunities for financing innovative projects of small and medium-sized enterprises under the Euroclusters program. Part of the program are AIBC project - presented by Anna Naydenova and Silicon Eurocluster - presented by Krasimira Shindarova.
• Anka Marin (FundingBox) introduced the participants to the current open opportunities for cascade financing of projects and the opportunities to increase qualifications in the field of digital technologies.
• The “Erasmus for Young entrepreneurs” programme and the opportunity to work with an experienced entrepreneur abroad were presented by Todor Mitov.
• Bogdana Vatashka presented Enterprise Europe Network and business support services.

The first day ended with a B2B cocktail where the participants made new contacts, exchanged experiences and ideas.

The second day of Scale Up Days 2023 was dedicated to digital twins within the DIH World Community Days. Professor Georgi Todorov from the Center for Excellence "Mechatronics and Clean Technologies" presented Digital Twins - their essence, benefits, application. Ivana Slavkova (Spesima GmbH) presented CATRobo Digital Twin, and Todor Genov (MYX) introduced us to digital twins in the telecommunications sector, Antoni Angelov (Architectural Spies) - Digital twins in architecture.

The event was closed by Prof. Simeon Stoyanov, Business Development Manager "Petascale Supercomputer - Bulgaria" who presented the supercomputer and its application in the field of digital twins, ChatGPT was also an invariable part of the discussion.

The third day was dedicated to Robotics. Robots developed by innovative companies and the "Artificial Intelligence and CAD Systems" laboratory of Sofia Tech Park were demonstrated.

The "Artificial Intelligence and CAD Systems" laboratory presented the application of artificial intelligence in the agricultural sector and the agROBOfood network and robotics in the agricultural and food - flavor sector were presented by Nikika Marinković, Biosens Institute. Ali Muhammad presented the Better Factory project and the opportunities for industrial enterprises in Bulgaria through the European network DIH2. Anelia Pergot (Europac Bulgaria) introduced us to the production of paper from stone, Kristiyan Mihailov (PARA - Professional Association for Robotics and Automation) presented the trends in robotics and automation, and Ventsislav Slavkov (Mechatronics and Automation Cluster) - Reengineering of universal robots and applications .

The event ended with a discussion between the participants.