SCALE UP WEB - Digital Transformation Becomes a Reality
04/11/2024
On the 28th and 29th of March 2024, was held this year's edition of ICT Cluster’s SCALE UP event – SCALE UP WEB. The online event provided the participants with useful information about innovative approaches and financing opportunities for innovative products and services related to the digital and green transition. SCALE UP WEB was attended by representatives of innovative companies, start-ups, and partners from various sectors working in favour of digital transformation and a sustainable future.
Day 1 of the event was dedicated to good practices and innovative methods of applying modern technologies and their benefits. Rodolfo Groenewoud van Vliet - co-founder and business director of In4Art and business developer and international innovation manager for various corporations, presented the lessons - successes and failures of the Better Factory project, which provided financial support to 18 partnerships for the implementation of digital technologies in the production process. What differentiates the project from others is the different approach, namely, necessarily in the consortium of partners, a product designer, a so-called Artist, must be involved, who will contribute to the innovative nature of the product and service from another angle related to the use of new materials, design of the product, new application of the product, use of new technologies to create innovative applications and platforms related to human perceptions, etc. Mrs. Anelia Pergoot inspired the participants with the successful experience from her experiment FOLD supported by Better Factory, but also with the plans and ideas for new businesses and application of stone paper. Maria Alexandrova from NASEKOMO shared the possibility of achieving a circular economy and its application in the production of high-protein foods. Bogdana Vatashka presented the opportunities for SMEs available at Sofia Tech Park, the laboratory complex, and the DIH "INNOVATION AMP".
Day 2 of SCALE UP WEB was entirely dedicated to funding opportunities for digital transformation projects and ideas. Anna Naydenova and Todor Mitov from ICT Cluster presented the opportunities that the organization currently provides through its participation as a partner in projects - AIBC Euroclusters, Silicon Euroclusters, and YEIM UP under Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme. Small and medium-sized enterprises can benefit from the AIBC Euroclusters’ open call to participate in a business mission in Austin, USA, and from the Silicon Euroclusters project’s green transition technology implementation voucher. Business ideas or how to gain experience from a successful entrepreneur can be supported by the YEIM UP project. Mr. Petko Georgiev joined the event as a chairman of ICT Cluster Burgas and Southeast Digital Innovation Hub and presented to the participants EEN – Enterprise Europe Network, the European Commission’s main tool for implementing its policies to support small and medium-sized businesses in Europe and aims to increase the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises, how to join the network, and how it can be useful to Bulgarian SMEs to become members. Many thanks to colleagues from Funding Box - Ola Sawicka Green and F6s – Natalia Cardona, for their time and extremely informative presentations on cascade funding, current open calls, and opportunities for SMEs on funding the development of innovative products and services as well as supporting their journey towards digital transformation.
If you did not find time to participate or missed the event, you may find video recordings of both days of SCALE UP WEB as well as the presentations of the speakers with all the necessary information on the following link: SCALE UP WEB video and presentations