Sofia Investment Agency in the First TCI Network European Conference Held in Sofia
Sofia Investment Agency is working on several projects in favor of the business in Sofia, including the “Sofia meets …” events, participation in the European Commission’s Digital Cities Challenge, City-to-City programme in cooperation with London&Partners, etc. In 2018 the Agency received more than 80 specific inquiries from local and foreign investors and entrepreneurs for cooperation in implementing an investment plan, Vladimir Danailov, CEO of Sofia Investment Agency said during his participation on the second day of the TCI Network European Conference 2018, of which Sofia Investment Agency is an official partner. Within the framework of the panel discussion on “Cooperation between the public and the private sector”, Danailov gave a presentation on the economic profile of Sofia and the investment opportunities in the capital and presented specific cases of the Agency with companies such as Forton / Cushman & Wakefield, Puzl CowOrWorking, Melexis – the Belgian chip and sensor manufacturer for the automotive industry, that double their production base in Sofia, etc.
The TCI Network European Conference 2018 was also attended by Alexander Manolev, deputy minister of economy, and Rosen Plevneliev, president of the Republic of Bulgaria in 2012-2017.
Currently, contracts in the amount of EUR 6.5 million are being executed in order to develop the clusters in Bulgaria. In addition, a new EUR 15 million procedure will be launched in 2018 to promote and develop clusters in the country under the “Innovation and competitiveness,” Operational Program, according to Alexander Manolev. He also laid stress upon some of the good examples in Bulgaria – the Bulgarian Furniture Cluster, the Bulgarian Cluster Telecommunications, the Industrial Cluster Srednogorie, Automotive Cluster Bulgaria, etc., as he focused on the need for more unions in the economic sector as “the Bulgarian business could be a competitor on the global market only if it is united”.
Powerfull talk from Bulgarien President Rosen Plevneliev on the importance of high ambitions, strategies, building cluster organisations – and patience. Effects shows over time #TCIEurope18 pic.twitter.com/5H6Sp0sDKs
— Merete D. Nielsen (@meret_nielsen) March 21, 2018
The annual TCI European Conference brought more than 150 delegates from 30 countries, European and global organizations, cluster managers, economic development experts from all over the world, representatives of academia and institutions. TCI Network is the leading global network of organizations and practitioners in the field of clusters and competitiveness and it holds its conference in Sofia for the first time, following the participation of Sofia Municipality in an open procedure, where, in alliance with the Association of Business Clusters in Bulgaria (ABC) and Consultancy Cluster Veritas Ltd., it won the trust of TCI Network’s board of directors and managed to focus their interest on organizing a European regional conference in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Day 1 at #TCIEurope18. Just now starting the #clusters tours. Really excited to be here at #Sofia with so many cluster practitioners! #collaborative #innovation pic.twitter.com/YXk9pFQ34a
— Antonio Novo (@antnovo) March 20, 2018
The purpose of the event is to introduce the opportunities of Eastern Europe and the Balkan region and Bulgaria in particular. The sessions within the three-day forum include topics that underline the importance of working cooperation between countries and regions in key areas in order to improve competitiveness and achieve sustainable development.
Discussion panels focus on topics such as industrial development policies – modern industrial policy; business and joint activities between clusters and companies from different regions and countries; the importance of local competitiveness programs implemented in developing countries for the global development.
In addition to the presentations and discussion panels of the conference program, some of the delegates took part in a one-day program at Sofia Tech Park and were acquainted with what has been achieved so far in the implementation of the Science and Technology Park project – Sofia and the development of the innovative ecosystem in Bulgaria. The presented projects are available here.
A great evening with cluster friends from @tcinetwork – Experiencing Bulgarian culture during #TCIEurope18 in Sofia. pic.twitter.com/uUvcayHHYt
— Jonas Bergholm (@bergholm_jonas) March 20, 2018
Today was the third day of the conference. You can follow TCI Network’s Facebook page for photos and key moments.
What is TCI Networks?
TCI is a leading global network of organizations and practitioners with deep expertise in clusters and competitiveness, who collaborate in a unique open, flexible and practical context to advance in the practice of competitiveness, innovation and cluster development. Through its activities, TCI reaches out to 9,000 practitioners from development agencies, government departments, cluster organizations, academic institutions, companies and multilateral organizations in over 110 countries.
