Workshop on “Clusters, Cluster Associations and Incubators – Environment for Development of SMEs” took place on 25 September 2009 at Hotel Holiday Inn, Sofia.

The prestigious event was organized by Bulgarian ICT Cluster with the financial support of European Commission and TAIEX.

The workshop is the first event in the country devoted to development of clusters, cluster associations and incubators. It gathered representatives of many existing and potential clusters and gave them opportunity to receive very useful information and best experiences from outstanding European cluster practitioners and managers.

The aim of the workshop was to create public awareness  for the  processes of cluster formation and development  in Bulgaria, to stress the need of government support and focused state policy for clusters and incubators. The event was also opportunity to stimulate good dialogue between the government and business.

The event started with opening speech of  Mr. Peter Statev – Chairman of The Bulgarian ICT Cluster and opening address made by The Deputy Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism – Mr. Evgeny Angelov. It continued with the presentation of Mrs. Paulette Pommier, representative of UNIDO (specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability)

Speakers of the event were: Mr. Christoph Beer-manager of ICT Cluster Bern, Switzerland and Cluster Manager of 2008, Mr. Sascha Stöppelkamp - manager of ICT Cluster in Bavaria, Prof. Dimitrios Serpanos from ISI/R.C. Athena, Mr. Zoltan Bendo - representative of the Pole Programme, Mrs. Leena Zittling – president of Prodemic Group, Finland and Mr. Boris Krstanovic - C.E.O of the Association of Croatian ICT Clusters – cro.ict.

Bulgarian speakers of the event were Mr. Peter Statev – Chairman of Bulgarian ICT Cluster, Mrs. Genoveva Hristova – Chairwoman of the Association of Business cCusters in Bulgaria, Mr. Angel Milev – Mechatronics and Automation Cluster, Mr. Todor Stanev -  Chairman of the managing board of the “High Tech Business Incubator” – Burgas. Mr. Stanimir Barzashki  - Executive Director of the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprise Agency and Mr. Angel Kovachev – expert from the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism were the represenatives of state institutions responsible for the development of cluster policy in the country. They presented to the audience the futhure opportunities for cluster organizations in Bulgaria.

One of the most interesting presentation evoked many discussions was made by Mr. Jack Lang, professor from the University of Cambridge.

As a tradition the event ended with round table for discussions, questions and opinions.

The First Conference and the official presentation of the Association of Business Clusters in Bulgaria took place on 6th August 2009 at 12:00h at the press club of BTA. The event attracted a huge media interest.

One of the main activities of the ABC is popularization of such type of business organizations model as opportunity for development of the Bulgarian economy in time of global crises.

ABC was found on 24th July in Varna. Members of the association are 20 Clusters, but 18 are possible future members.

The Association unites over 150 companies, with 12 000 – 15 000 employees, 5 science – research institutes and 12 non – government organizations.

On 30th June 2009 the chairmen of Bulgarian ICT Business and Political Party GERB signed a memorandum for collaboration and sustainable development of the ICT Sector. The agreement was signed by:

Peter Statev (ICT Cluster), Teodor Zahov (BAIT, Association of Electronic Communications) Georgi Brashnarov ( Bulgarian Association of Software Companies), Dimitar Ganev ( Bulgarian Web Association) and the administrative secretary of Political party GERB Tsvetomir Paynov.

The aim of the memorandum is to unite the efforts of the Bulgarian politicians and the Business for acceleration of  the development of the information and communication technologies in Bulgaria.  By the signing of the memorandum GERB promised that after their possible coming into power they will create expert working groups together with the ICT business to make the principles of the memorandum main priorities of the government.

From 1 to 3 June 2009 the kick of meeting of I3E project had been held in Patras, Greece. The project is co-financed by the South East Transnational Program of EU and Ministry of Regional development and Public Work of Bulgaria.

Representatives of all 12 partners from 8 countries attended the meeting. The main objective of the event was official start of the project activities, detailed presentation of the partners, planning of future activities and definition of project objectives of the first period. The host institution of the meeting was ISI Institute, which is the leading partner of the project.

On May 15  2009 the chairmen of the Bulgarian ICT Business organizations (ICT Cluster, BAIT, BASSCOM, Bulgarian Web Association),  and Political party NMSS  signed memorandum for collaboration and  sustainable development of the ICT Sector in Bulgaria.

The agreement was signed by:

Peter Statev (Bulgarian ICT Cluster), Teodor Zahov (BAIT, Association of Electronic Communications) Georgi Brashnarov ( Bulgarian Association of Software Companies), Dimitar Ganev ( Bulgarian Web Association) and deputy chairman of NMSS – Mr. Milen  Velchev

The document was signed in the attendance of the chairman of Parliamentary Committee of Transport and Communications – professor Jordan Mirchev (NMSS).

The aim of the memorandum is to unite the efforts of the Bulgarian politicians and the Business for acceleration of the development of the information and communication technologies in Bulgaria.

By the signing of the memorandum, the NMSS agrees to include in its election program parts of the document, and to participate in expert working groups and to support its implementation by the government.

The Initiative is organized by the Coordination Council for Information Society at Council of Ministers, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic and Energetic and Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform.

The main points of the conference were the experiences and good practices in Bulgaria and Europe, analysis of regulatory framework and the opportunities and perspectives for building public – private partnership in the ICT area.

Mrs. Rumyana Konteva, representative of Broadband Initiative, which coordinator is Bulgarian ICT Cluster made a presentation about the “Models for development and management of networks for broadband access”.  The representative of Bulgarian ICT Cluster participated at the event was Ms. Anna Naydenova.

Representatives of “Telecommunications Cluster” participated at the Bulgarian National Industrial Exhibition. The event was part of the program devoted to Year of Bulgaria in Russia, between the 27 – 30th of April 2009.

The Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA) was organizer of the participation and national presentation of the exhibitions.

The National Exhibition in Moscow gave opportunity for presentation of the Bulgarian export potential abroad and to encourage the development of bilateral trade and economic relationships and partnerships in business environment between Bulgaria and Russia.

The year of Bulgaria in Russia offered good opportunity for exhibition of the Bulgarian ICT industry and examination with the potential and characteristics of the Russian ICT market and industry. “Telecommunications Cluster” represented a common integrated solution for broadband access on the stand of the Bulgarian ICT Industry.

On 22 April 2009 representatives of ICT organizations Astel, BAIT, BASSCOM, ICT CLUSTER, SEK and Bulgarian Web Association, actuated by the understanding that the goals, missions and problems of ICT sector are common for all,  signed a Memorandum for collaboration.

ICT are unabolished part of the infrastructure of the country and have a leading role for building and development of knowledge based society. They are tools and accelerators for improve the quality of the education and professional qualification.

The organizations came to terms:

- To work actively for accelerated development of the informational and communicational technologies in our country, so they can be completely and efficiently put into practice in the government of the country, by founding and executing of state politics that assure sustainable development Of the Bulgarian economy and the ICT sector.
- To work actively for improvement of educational system of the country by implementation of ICT in the education process and professional qualification. To work actively for realization of a program for creating in population adequate IT knowledge and skills, as a part of the common measures for competitive power of the nation.
- To work together for building of normative and legislative base for ensuring of Public – Private partnership. They agreed that  the public – private partnerships give the opportunity for realization of the state projects , completely or partly financed by the Private Business with subsequent exploitation. This gives the opportunity to be compensate the lack of commercial interest by the progress of definite regions/industries/technologies.
- The sides, leaded by the necessity for improving the effectiveness of the public costs, will work for implementation of system approach for coordination of the important ICT projects and essential  increasing of share  of  public services provided by the private sector.
- To work actively for improvement and realization of the intellectual potential of Bulgaria. In relation with this to be taken  common measures for stimulating of people that are studying in the area of ICT and to be elaborated plans for long – term projects for motivating specialists to work and create in country.
- The sides will work for build an adequate package of measures -  legislative, economical, financial for creating of favorable conditions for innovations development  and their  industrialization
- In terms global recession of the trust and collapse of the World Finance system both sides will work for  creating of brand  of  Bulgaria, as  honest  member of the European union,  First class Business partner and regional center for innovations and sustainable development
- The representatives of the Bulgarian ICT sector are ready to create expert commissions and other bodies for collaboratively work,, with aim to formulate and implement the previously mentioned principles as main priorities of  the management, monitoring and participating in the following realisation

The Project I3E – Promoting the innovation in the field of the industrial informatics and embedded systems was approved for financing  by the Transnational program “ South – East Europe” of the European Commission.

The leading organization of the project is the Institute for Industrial Systems – ATHENA ISL. There are 12 consortium partners. Partners from Bulgaria are the ICT Cluster and Foundation for New Bulgarian University.  The main goal of the project is the creation of a transnational network for transformation of the research projects from industrial informatics  and embedded systems into innovation. Duration of the project is 3 years.

On 20th March, 2009 in Holiday Inn Hotel in Business Park Sofia a MODERN CONSUMER IN THE DIGITAL WORLD conference took place.

Organizations of the event are European Commission, E-bay, ICT Cluster and CEIBG.

The conference is oriented towards:

- Young intensive Internet users;
- Telecom operators’ representatives;
- Internet service providers,
- e-shops companies.

Special guest of the event were Mrs. Meglena Kuneva, European Commissioner for Consumer Affairs.

The European Finance Convention in partnership with BCCI (Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) organisеd “The Bulgaria Business&Investment Summit”. The event was held during the period 5-6th march, 2009 in Sheraton Hotel, Sofia

Representatives from the financial sector, investors, business leaders and representatives from the national and regional administration took part at the event.
Mr. Peter Statev, Chairman of the ICT Cluster, made a presentation about “Public Private Partnership: A Solid Base and Effective Instrument for National Broadband Initiative Realization”.

For more information - here. (http://www.euroconvention.com/events.php?action=details&event_id=9&sub=intro)

On February 28th, 2009 the implementation of Project “Creation of Telecommunications Cluster and Establishment of Sustainable Cluster Strategy” BG 2005/017-586.04.02/ESC/G/CDI-II-003, financed by PHARE Program and Ministry of Economy and Energy was officially ended.