{"id":14419,"date":"2018-11-05T15:24:46","date_gmt":"2018-11-05T13:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/investsofia.com\/en\/?p=14419"},"modified":"2018-11-05T15:27:22","modified_gmt":"2018-11-05T13:27:22","slug":"sofias-digital-cities-challenge-project-moves-to-a-strategy-development-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/investsofia.com\/en\/sofias-digital-cities-challenge-project-moves-to-a-strategy-development-stage\/","title":{"rendered":"Sofia\u2019s Digital Cities Challenge Project Moves to a Strategy Development Stage"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13246\" src=\"http:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/DCC-September-Workshop-Sofia.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1059\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/DCC-September-Workshop-Sofia.png 1059w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/DCC-September-Workshop-Sofia-300x114.png 300w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/DCC-September-Workshop-Sofia-768x291.png 768w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/DCC-September-Workshop-Sofia-1024x388.png 1024w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/DCC-September-Workshop-Sofia-600x227.png 600w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/DCC-September-Workshop-Sofia-260x98.png 260w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/DCC-September-Workshop-Sofia-50x19.png 50w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/DCC-September-Workshop-Sofia-150x57.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1059px) 100vw, 1059px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sofia Investment Agency, on behalf of the city of Sofia, continues its participation in the Digital Cities Project of the European <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Commission <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and is now moving into the strategy development and consolidation phase of the Project.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital Cities Challenge<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is an initiative of the European Commission aiming to achieve sustainable economic growth in Sofia through the integration of advanced technologies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14258 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Chart-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1254\" height=\"287\" srcset=\"https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Chart-1.png 1254w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Chart-1-300x69.png 300w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Chart-1-768x176.png 768w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Chart-1-1024x234.png 1024w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Chart-1-600x137.png 600w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Chart-1-260x60.png 260w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Chart-1-50x11.png 50w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Chart-1-150x34.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1254px) 100vw, 1254px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The aim of the Challenge is to offer high level advisory services to 15 European cities and help them build up innovation ecosystems through the deployment of advanced technologies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Due to the high interest showcased by the 92 applications from cities all over Europe, the initiative has increased its outreach to include 21 Fellow cities that joined on their own resources and 6 Mentor cities that inspire and share best practices with the group. The result is a network of over 40 cities that participate in the initiative.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14256 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Cities.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"803\" height=\"726\" srcset=\"https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Cities.png 803w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Cities-300x271.png 300w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Cities-768x694.png 768w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Cities-600x542.png 600w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Cities-161x146.png 161w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Cities-50x45.png 50w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Cities-83x75.png 83w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 803px) 100vw, 803px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After an online questionnaire, dozens of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">face-to-face<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> interviews and three workshops with key local stakeholders from <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">government, academia, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IT sector, utility companies and the start-up community, our team of experts has now concluded the Assessment report for the city of Sofia. Here are some of the key <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">takeaways <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">from the report:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14262 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Strategy.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1054\" height=\"692\" srcset=\"https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Strategy.png 1054w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Strategy-300x197.png 300w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Strategy-768x504.png 768w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Strategy-1024x672.png 1024w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Strategy-600x394.png 600w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Strategy-222x146.png 222w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Strategy-50x33.png 50w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Strategy-114x75.png 114w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1054px) 100vw, 1054px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stakeholders of Sofia consider the ICT ecosystem of the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">city<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; an <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">advanced business ecosystem composed of companies having high level of technological competence and expertise to offer any product that is demanded<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">strongly export-oriented sector that has not contributed much to the modernisation of the local economy and city life. Moreover, the further growth of the ICT ecosystem itself depends on the creation of local markets for ICT services, enabling the ICT companies to develop a local base for product experimentation and development<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Based on the above findings, the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital Transformation Strategy<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for the city of Sofia focuses on smart growth sustained by digital systems in both the ecosystems of ICT companies located in Sofia (supply side) and other industry and service sectors that absorb digital services (demand side).<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14260 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Digital-Transformation-Strategy.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1247\" height=\"739\" srcset=\"https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Digital-Transformation-Strategy.png 1247w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Digital-Transformation-Strategy-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Digital-Transformation-Strategy-768x455.png 768w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Digital-Transformation-Strategy-1024x607.png 1024w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Digital-Transformation-Strategy-600x356.png 600w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Digital-Transformation-Strategy-246x146.png 246w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Digital-Transformation-Strategy-50x30.png 50w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DCC-Sofia-Digital-Transformation-Strategy-127x75.png 127w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1247px) 100vw, 1247px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The strategy was drafted in collaboration with local stakeholders from private and public organisations of Sofia. The stakeholders selected 16 operational objectives for the digital transformation strategy of Sofia. Operational objectives reflect the means through which the city of Sofia will achieve its ambition statements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What is next: Identification of preliminary investment priorities<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This November we will be working on the identification of preliminary investment priorities and the selection of several pilot projects. We invite stakeholders from the sectors of IT, transport, utilities and government to take part in specialized workgroups and share their ideas of possible projects that will support the city of Sofia in its digitalization trajectory.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let us know if you would like to take part in the next stage. If you want to learn more about the project, please contact Nadia Soultanova, Head of \u2018Investment and Business Development\u2019 at Sofia Investment Agency by email: nadia.soultanova@investsofia.com.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A big thank you to the growing network of local stakeholders and EU cities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14266 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/strategy-academy-seminar-greece.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2232\" height=\"1275\" srcset=\"https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/strategy-academy-seminar-greece.jpg 2232w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/strategy-academy-seminar-greece-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/strategy-academy-seminar-greece-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/strategy-academy-seminar-greece-1024x585.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/strategy-academy-seminar-greece-600x343.jpg 600w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/strategy-academy-seminar-greece-256x146.jpg 256w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/strategy-academy-seminar-greece-50x29.jpg 50w, https:\/\/investsofia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/strategy-academy-seminar-greece-131x75.jpg 131w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2232px) 100vw, 2232px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; Sofia Investment Agency, on behalf of the city of Sofia, continues its participation in the Digital Cities [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":13247,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/investsofia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/investsofia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/investsofia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/investsofia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/investsofia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14419"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/investsofia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14419\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/investsofia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13247"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/investsofia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/investsofia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/investsofia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}